Ella Gibson is officially the best archer in the world.

The 22-year-old from Cirencester was named as the best archer of 2022 ahead of the first stage of the 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya in Turkey.

And it’s not surprising that Ella, a former Deer Park School pupil, was given the prestigious award because she won all three stages of the international circuit in which she competed last year, took gold at the World Games and finished runner-up at her first Hyundai Archery World Cup final to big rival Sara Lopez.

She is also the only person in the history of archery to have won seven gold medals in one year.

Ella, the world number one, was also confirmed as the winner of the compound women’s category award.

Members of the public, the executive board and a panel of archery journalists voted for the category awards from shortlists on the World Archery Awards minisite and Ella’s win of the compound women’s award broke Lopez’s hold on the trophy, which stretched back to 2015.

The overall award was selected only by journalists – and there were no nominees. Voters were simply asked to name the best and second-best archers of the year. Sixteen athletes received votes and Ella, who took up the sport as a 14-year-old with Deer Park Archers, was the clear favourite.

“I will always remember it. It was just an amazing year,” said Ella after being told of the achievement. “Of course, winning the World Cup final would have been the cherry on the cake, but if I’d done that where else was there to go?

“I had no idea about the award, and I certainly didn’t expect this at all. Thank you and thanks to everyone who voted.”