Michele Frangilli - Italy

Italy’s Michele Frangilli is regarded as the best men’s recurve archer in the world. He enters Athens with his own excellent streak intact. Since 2001, Frangilli has won a major title each year. He won the world indoor title in 2001, the world field title in 2002, and the world outdoor title in New York in 2003.

Frangilli, 28, has won a team medal at each of the past two Olympics: a silver medal in 2000 and a bronze medal in 1996. He placed ninth in 2000 and sixth in 1996.

He comes from an archery-mad family in Gallarate, northern Italy. His father,Vittorio, is a council member of the Italian Archery Federation. His younger sister, Carla, won the cadet title at the 2004 world junior championships last month in Lilleshall, United Kingdom.

Frangilli warmed up for Athens by winning the Golden Arrow Grand Prix in Antalya, Turkey, last month.

He has strong team members with him in Athens, both with high hopes of achieving well in the individual events. Marco Galiazzo won the 2004 men’s European championships and Ilario Di Buo is a Sydney 2000 team silver medalist.

A marked difference in Frangilli this year is a massive drop in weight. A recommended change of diet after a series of allergy tests has seen him lose more than 15kg.

On the eve of the world championships in New York last year, Frangilli participated in a special promotional shoot in Central Park during which he demonstrated his trick skills.

Among the stunts he performed for television cameras and the public were hitting targets by firing through (empty!) taxi cabs and shooting a strawberry off a piece of cheesecake. He even sent an arrow through an apple just like William Tell once did.