Lars Andersen (archer)

Lore & Background

Lars Andersen studied privately under Otto Frello and graduated from the School of Visual Art, describing himself as a Danish painter and writer. His archery demonstrations, first gaining traction with a viral video in November 2012, show techniques such as shooting while holding multiple arrows in the draw hand, shooting while on the move, jumping, at close and far range, and even hanging upside-down. In a 2017 video, he demonstrated the ability to shoot arrows that turn in mid-flight.

Many of the historical and scientific claims made in his 2015 video have been contested or discredited, and few of his ideas have gained traction with other archers and internet personalities. In April 2015, Andersen responded to the criticism, clarifying some statements and agreeing with some arguments against his original claims—particularly that the style was not forgotten or reinvented by him—while countering other criticisms, such as the assertion that the texts he referenced did not cover speed shooting or the archer's paradox.

Reader's Guide

Lars Andersen's significance lies in his ability to generate massive public interest in archery through viral videos, while simultaneously provoking intense scrutiny from historians and archery experts. His claim of a speed record—10 arrows in 4.9 seconds—and his demonstrations of unorthodox shooting positions brought archery to a broad online audience. However, the controversy surrounding his historical assertions has limited his influence within the archery community; few of his techniques or interpretations have been adopted by other practitioners. The debate over his methods, including his response to critics in April 2015, highlights the tension between popular spectacle and scholarly accuracy. His Guinness World Record for shooting seven consecutive arrows through a keyhole in 2022 underscores his technical skill, even as the broader legacy of his claims remains disputed. Ultimately, Andersen is a figure whose work is as notable for the questions it raised about archery history as for the feats themselves.

Did You Know?

• Lars Andersen is also a painter and writer, having studied under Otto Frello.
• His video 'A New Level of Archery' received over 23 million views in its first week.
• He broke the Guinness World Record for most consecutive arrows shot through a keyhole with 7 shots on 1 June 2022.