Petra Ericsson

Lore & Background

Petra Ericsson began her international career at the 1989 and 1991 World Indoor Archery Championships, placing 8th and 4th respectively. During the 1991 Archery World Championships, she decided to switch from recurve to the compound discipline, facing personal problems but achieving a world record stage. She showed competence in Indoor, Outdoor, and Field World Archery Championships and World Games, winning numerous medals in both sports in the 1990s. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she competed in recurve, finishing 9th in the ranking round before losing to Joanna Nowicka in the second knockout round. In 2001 she was a quarterfinalist at the World Archery Championships, and in 2005 at the World Games. After not being selected for the 2004 Olympics, she participated in the 2006 Archery World Cup. In 2007, she placed 9th in the women's individual compound at the Archery World Cup and became a silver medalist in the same discipline. She won the 2007 FITA Archery World Cup final in Dubai and the second stage in Varese. She achieved a career-high ranking of 2 behind Jamie Van Natta in April 2008, defeating Anna Kazantseva in the semifinals. After a long break to start a family (giving birth in 2008), she returned with her coach and husband Mats Inge, performing outstandingly at the Tournament of Nîmes in 2012, where she tied with Danielle Brown and secured bronze by defeating Patricia Leger in the finals.

Reader's Guide

Petra Ericsson's career illustrates the transition between recurve and compound archery at the highest levels. Her decision to switch to compound during the 1991 World Championships, despite personal difficulties, led to a world record stage and later success. She demonstrated versatility by competing in indoor, outdoor, and field events, winning medals across the 1990s. Her Olympic participation in 2000 in the recurve category shows her adaptability, though she was not selected for the 2004 Games. Her peak in compound came in 2007 with a World Cup final victory in Dubai and a career-high ranking of 2 in 2008. After a break for motherhood, she returned in 2012 to win bronze at the Tournament of Nîmes, tying with Danielle Brown and defeating Patricia Leger. Her career reflects the challenges of balancing disciplines, family, and international competition, and her achievements place her among notable Swedish archers of her era.

Did You Know?

• Petra Ericsson achieved a world record stage during the 1991 Archery World Championships after switching to compound.
• She competed in the recurve category at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, finishing 9th in the ranking round.
• After giving birth in 2008, she returned to archery and won bronze at the Tournament of Nîmes in 2012.