Archery — The New Sexy Sport

Archery is hot. The Olympics and blockbuster movies like The Hunger Games, The Avengers, Snow White and the Huntsman, and the Disney – Pixar film Brave, only make the sport sizzle even more. Plus, we have two new TV specials to look forward to this fall with more arrow-flying action: The CW’s Arrow and NBC’s Revolution. The New York Post even reports how area gyms are offering archery-inspired workout classes.

Sam Claflin as William in “Snow White and the Huntsman”
(Universal Pictures)

No question about it, archery is the new sexy sport. Robin Hood and Avatar may have been the first films to plant the archery seed, but once Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games shot onto screens, archery has taken off like a sharply aimed arrow ever since. Add to that, the fact that the film’s actress Jennifer Lawrence was trained by Khatuna Lorig who placed 4^th place in the London Olympics this last week, followed by stunning performances by gold-medal winner Bo Bae Ki of the Republic of South Korea, silver star Aida Roman and bronze teen Mariana Avitia of Mexico, and you’ve definitely got a winning combination.

Not to be outshined are real-life bowmen Brady Ellison, with Jake Kaminski and Jacob Wukie of the U.S. men’s archery team. They also shot to stardom on headlines this week with silver as the first U.S. medalists of the 2012 Olympic summer games.

And then, of course, there are the handsome bowmen Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye in The Avengers and Sam Claflin as William in Snow White and the Huntsman. They could make anyone develop a burning desire to take up the sport.

Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye in
“The Avengers”
(Marvel / Walt Disney Pictures)

Sam Claflin in Snow White and the Huntsman

Sam Claflin as William in
“Snow White and the Huntsman”
(Universal Pictures)

Finally, my personal favorite, Princess Merida of Brave may be an animated character, but her sassy, independent attitude and crown of fiery red tresses definitely ranks high in my book, especially when she boldly shows how she won’t bow to just any bowman.