The Frenchman, who turned 33 today, beat the United States' Bridger Deaton, to whom he finished runner-up in the World Cup Final, to the prize during the inaugural World Archery Gala.

Deloche received 26 per cent of the votes to finish three per cent ahead of the US's Jesse Broadwater and eight per cent clear of Deaton.

Like Deloche, Erika Jones of the US overcame a World Cup Final conqueror as she beat Colombia's Sara Lopez in the equivalent women's category.

Last season's Indoor World Cup winner secured 31 per cent of the votes to Lopez's 25 per cent.

The public were invited to vote for their favourite athletes of the past year throughout December and January, while a panel of experts, including members of the World Archery Executive Board, as well as President Uğur Erdener and Olympic Games development director Juan Carlos Holgado, were also polled.

Pierre Julien Deloche (centre) poses among the Athlete of 2014 award winners
©World Archery



Brady Ellison, who made history by becoming the first person to win the World Cup circuit three times, prevailed in the recurve men's category which was decided by the joint-narrowest vote margin.

Only three per cent separated the American from Brazil's Marcus Dalmeida, who can take consolation from the fact that he breezed to the newcomer of the year award beating France's Pierre Plihon and China's Li Jiaman. 

Dalmeida's first full international season saw him become the youngest-ever World Cup finalist, picking up the silver medal in Lausanne, and finish runner-up at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.

Plihon claimed a silver medal at his first international event in Shanghai, while Li was a double-gold medallist in Nanjing.

Mexico's Aída Román was a comfortable winner in the recurve women's category, finishing ahead of South Korea's Jung Dasomi and Germany's Lisa Unruh.

Román's coach Lee Mi Joung of South Korea came away with the coach of the year crown, which was recognition of the Mexican's resurgence two years after winning an Olympic silver medal at London 2012.

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