Hubert Van Innis

Hubert Van Innis, born on February twenty-fourth, eighteen sixty-six, was a remarkable Belgian archer and architect whose legacy in the sport of archery is unparalleled. His journey began in the villages around Brussels, where as a young boy, he delivered milk and practiced archery in his spare time, often sending his dog and cart home while he honed his skills.

At the tender age of thirteen, Van Innis showcased his talent by winning first prize in a major competition in Antwerp. His prowess continued to shine as he claimed victories in the years eighteen ninety-three, eighteen ninety-four, eighteen ninety-five, and eighteen ninety-six, along with the prestigious Royal Prize of Roozendaal in eighteen eighty-one.

Van Innis made his Olympic debut at the age of thirty-four during the nineteen hundred Summer Olympics in Paris, where he excelled in four events, securing gold medals in the Au Cordon Doré 33 metres and Au Chapelet 33 metres, while also earning a silver medal in the Au Cordon Doré 50 metres. His Olympic journey did not end there; twenty years later, at fifty-four, he competed in the nineteen twenty Summer Olympics in Antwerp, adding to his impressive medal tally with two individual golds and three team medals.

Even at the age of sixty-seven, Van Innis proved his enduring skill by winning at the nineteen thirty-three World Championships. His legacy lives on through his family, with his great-grandson Philippe Prieels and great-great-granddaughter Sarah Prieels both competing in the World Archery Championships, ensuring that the Van Innis name remains synonymous with excellence in archery.