Anni Jauhiainen leaves Finland to build top-level equestrian archery career

Anni Jauhiainen, 27, has packed her life into a single suitcase and left Finland to pursue a career in horseback archery, a sport she discovered only after high school. She now trains in France while competing internationally, aiming for a world championship medal next year.

Jauhiainen has already won two Finnish national titles and a silver medal at the European Championships. She moved to France in autumn 2023 and uses the country as a base for teaching and developing the sport worldwide.

Her journey began when the reigning world champion from Romania joined the same stable where she was working. Under six months of training later, she won her first national medal and earned a place on the Finnish national team.

“It shows how accessible the sport was at the time that someone could win a medal with so little training,” she said. “That wouldn’t be possible today.”

Jauhiainen has since competed in Iran, Malaysia, Hungary, South Korea and other countries, financing her travels through stable work and stunt projects. She moved abroad permanently in 2019 after finishing high school and saving enough money for a one-way ticket.

“I didn’t know what the future would bring, but this lifestyle and having a home in France suit me now,” she said. “Being able to teach what I know around the world and help grow the sport is incredibly motivating.”

The Finnish Equestrian Archery Federation will hold its national championships in Jämsä in early August.