Purple Arrows in 2027 - Sophia Abery

Meet Sophia (Soph)

Sophia, who goes by Soph, is a 16-year-old compound archer competing in the Under-18 Women's division. She represents Mana Archery Club in Wellington.

For Soph, archery is much more than a sport. She describes it as "meditation in motion", offering a sense of inner peace and community away from the pressures of school life. Through archery, she has developed valuable life skills, including patience, self-reflection, communication and the ability to build connections with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Her achievements include becoming the WAA Junior Women's Compound Target Champion and ANZ Intermediate Women's Compound Target Champion. She also holds three New Zealand records and has represented New Zealand at both the Trans-Tasman Challenge and the World Archery Oceania Championships.

Beyond archery, Soph has a wide range of interests. From building and repairing computers to playing video games such as Destiny 2 and Genshin Impact, she enjoys exploring technology and gaming with friends and family. She is also passionate about music, enjoys creating playlists, and spends considerable time organising Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. At school, she serves as one of the head Dungeon Masters.

Soph is always happy to help others, whether answering questions, sharing her knowledge or assisting with equipment setup. She values the supportive community that archery creates and enjoys contributing to it.

A message from Soph:

"Whether you're watching, just starting out or competing in archery, every cheer echoes louder than any arrow could. You don't need to hit the gold to fall in love with the journey. Champions aren't defined by their wins, but by how they get back up after a fall and silence doubt with a single shot."

Soph looks forward to the adventures and opportunities that lie ahead!