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Sep 16, 2026

Chloe Nelsen: Setting Records and Breaking Barriers

At just 16 years old, Chloe Nelsen is already becoming a name that commands attention on the national archery scene.

The West Bend, Wisconsin, archer has spent years quietly building an impressive résumé, collecting national records, major tournament victories and, most recently, one of the biggest wins of her young career. Now, after a 2026 season that saw her rewrite the record books and make history at the Vegas Shoot, Nelsen is proving that she is much more than a promising young archer. She is turning heads as one of the brightest rising stars in the sport.

Nelsen’s journey began in an unlikely place: watching Disney’s Brave. “I got started in archery nine years ago when I was seven years old,” Nelsen said. “I was inspired by the main character in the Disney movie Brave to try archery, so my parents took me to a local YMCA for archery lessons and I immediately fell in love.”

What started as an introduction to the sport quickly became a passion. By 2019, Nelsen was beginning to dip her toes into national-level competition. Then came 2020. She had been excited to attend the NFAA Indoor Nationals that year, but the event was canceled due to COVID-19. Instead of letting the disappointment slow her down, Nelsen used it as motivation.

“I made it a goal that when tournaments came back, I would come in swinging,” she said. “I went from practicing one day a week to a few, and I became more focused and driven during my practice sessions.”

That extra work quickly began to show. Nelsen has since become a fixture on the indoor and target archery circuits, establishing herself as one of the top archers at each event while adding numerous national records to her name. Her ability to perform at the highest level was on full display at the 2026 Rushmore Rumble, where she was one of just two women at the entire event to shoot a 900. Weeks later, at the 2026 NFAA Indoor Nationals in Memphis, she completed an incredible sweep of indoor national records across multiple age divisions.

Her record-setting performances span several stages of her young career, beginning with a 600 and 120X to claim the Cub Female Freestyle record in 2022, followed by a 600 and 119X Youth Female Freestyle record in 2025. In 2026, she capped the progression with a perfect 600 and 120X to set the Young Adult Female Freestyle record.

These numbers alone tell the story of an exceptional young archer, but Nelsen’s accomplishments extend well beyond the indoor range. She also holds three national target records and has proven she can perform when the pressure is at its highest. In 2025, Nelsen won the Amateur 3-Star Shoot-Off, earning a $2,500 scholarship. She also captured the 2025 Lancaster Archery Classic in the Youth Female Open division, a victory that she places toward the top of her list of biggest archery accomplishments.

Then came Vegas. The 2026 Vegas Shoot became the defining moment of Nelsen’s young career. Competing in the Championship Young Adult Compound division against the best young male and female archers in the world, she battled through a high-pressure shoot-off on one of archery’s biggest stages, ultimately becoming the first female to win the Young Adult Championship Compound division at the event.

With thousands of spectators watching at Planet Hollywood, Nelsen had to find a way to block out the noise and focus on the shot in front of her. “While I was on the stage for the shoot off, I tried to convince myself that it was just like practice back at home,” she said. “Sure, it’s on a stage with a lot of people watching you, but when it comes down to it, it’s exactly the same as just shooting at home. Same bow, same equipment, same distance, and same target face.”

Confidence played an equally important role. “I had confidence that I could win Vegas, and I didn’t doubt myself,” Nelsen said. “Just having that mindset is really what pushed me through.” The shoot-off was not without its challenges though. During the battle for first place against Liam Bartle, Nelsen dropped an X. Rather than allowing the mistake to snowball, she immediately reset and focused on the next arrow. “I didn’t let that rough shot get to my head,” she said. “I didn’t think about it as I took the next shot, because the arrow was gone and I couldn’t change anything.”

Her Vegas victory was especially meaningful because the Championship Young Adult division puts male and female competitors on the same playing field. “It means a lot to me, not because I’m a woman and I won in a male-dominated division, but simply because it means that I shot against the best of EVERYONE and not just girls,” Nelsen said.

For a young woman looking to compete at the highest levels of the sport, Nelsen hopes her experience can serve as encouragement for others. “Know that you can do it,” she said. “I’m still on my journey to the professional level, but I do know that if you put your mind to it and work hard that you will get there.”

For Nelsen, that hard work is already a daily commitment. Her success is built on consistency, with countless hours of practice, preparation and competition behind each accomplishment. “I usually shoot six to seven days a week for a couple hours each day and have been doing this for a long time now,” she said. Her preparation also includes weight training, equipment work, and as many tournaments as her family’s schedule and finances allow.

Her advice goes beyond simply putting in the hours though. Nelsen encourages young archers to compete as often as possible and embrace the pressure that comes with tournament shooting. She keeps her own mental game sharp by competing in smaller local tournaments, using them as an opportunity to experience pressure in a setting where the stakes may not be as high as a national event.

That experience has shaped Nelsen not only as an archer, but as a person. Competing against some of the best young archers in the country has taught her how to manage nerves, stay composed and respect the athletes around her. “It makes you realize the amount of talent other archers have, and gives you more respect for them too,” she said.

But while hard work and competition are important, Nelsen believes there is another piece that can make all the difference over the course of an archer’s journey: having fun. “Don’t forget to have a good time!” she said. “Maintaining a positive attitude throughout your archery career is really important. Your attitude can make or break your performance.”

For Nelsen, that can mean inviting friends to practice, setting goals and celebrating when those goals are reached, or simply joining a league at a nearby archery club. Keeping the experience enjoyable, she believes, makes it easier to stay motivated, continue improving and ultimately go farther in the sport.

Behind Nelsen’s success is a strong support system. Her parents have traveled with her to tournaments across the country, while her father has become her coach and equipment partner. Her sister and grandparents regularly attend competitions, and her S3DA teammates have supported her throughout her travels.

She also credits the people who have helped guide her along the way. Michelle, one of her S3DA coaches, introduced her to competitive archery and helped her get her first bow. Billy and the team at Wicked Archery have also been an important part of her journey, working with Nelsen and her father over the years to help with equipment setup and offering advice that has helped her continue to develop as an archer.

And like many young archers, Nelsen has her own list of professionals who have inspired her along the way. Paige Pearce and Jimmy Lutz are among the professional archers she has looked up to, and she has appreciated the encouragement they have offered at tournaments.

Away from the range, Nelsen is much like any other teenager. She loves reading, particularly fantasy, dystopian and historical fiction, and has an interest in psychology and history. She plays clarinet in her high school band and enjoys everything from country and pop to hard rock. When she is not competing, she enjoys hiking, biking, camping, fishing and spending time with her friends, family and teammates.

And there is one particularly surprising fact about her: when she was younger, Nelsen wanted to be a storm chaser. “I’m sure glad I took up archery instead!” she said.

Now, her sights are firmly set on the future. One of her next goals is to shoot a 900 in Vegas, something she came close to accomplishing this past year. Beyond that, she hopes to make the jump to the professional ranks within the next few years. She also has her sights set on competing at Redding for the first time. For now, though, Nelsen continues to do what has gotten her here: practice, compete, learn and enjoy the journey.

Nine years after a Disney movie inspired a seven-year-old girl to pick up a bow, Chloe Nelsen has become a national record holder, major tournament champion and history-maker. And if her trajectory continues, the 16-year-old from West Bend may only be getting started.

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