Who is Penny Healey, the British archer doing it differently

Archery 01 Jul 24

TikTok fiend, emu cuddler and double European Games gold medallist, Penny Healey has carved out a unique path to the Olympic Games.

Who is Penny Healey?

The Telford teenager is the newest and brightest member of the British archery team set to star at Paris 2024.

Healey topped the world rankings after individual gold at the Archery World Cup before collected two more golds at the European Games, in the individual and women's team recurve. It was a 2023 that saw her nominated for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

She then propelled GB to bronze at the Final Olympic Qualifier in Antalya in June 2024 to ensure she will compete in the women's team and individual events on Olympic debut.

Time to discover Penny’s fascinating journey to the top of the world and get an insight into her life away from the shooting range.

How Penny Healey became an archer

Penny’s fairytale rise all started with a Disney movie.

She was inspired to have a go at archery after watching ‘Brave,’ the 2012 flick in which Merida, an independent archer, lifts an ancient curse using her bow.

Penny was a keen horserider growing up but found her sporting niche thanks to a taster session at Audco Archers in Newport, Shropshire.

A key stage in Penny's career coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Penny struggled with her mental health during lockdowns, unable to practice the sport and see friends.

Ultimately archery would help her manage that anxiety.

“Over lockdown I struggled a lot and coming back to competing,” she said.

“Archery has helped me a lot with that. It helps me refocus and calm down.

“When I’m shooting, it’s just me and my bow and the target and when I need some headspace, I can just go and shoot. My Mum and the people who know me realise that!”

Penny Healey's first win

She took victory in the 2022 World Indoor Series in Las Vegas and 2022 Antalya World Cup gold alongside Bryony Pitman and Jaspreet Sagoo in the women’s team event, her first appearance on the top-level circuit.

Penny finished ninth individually at the 2022 European Championships and then fourth at the Paris World Cup, before breaking the world junior record (15m) over the winter to maintain the momentum.

"2022 was a pretty good year and I didn't quite expect it," said Healey.

"Some of my results were a big surprise and they helped give me a push in confidence for the rest of the year. I started 2023 off as world number 15 which was pretty crazy."

Penny Healey dancing

Away from the range, Penny Healey never misses a beat on the dancefloor alongside her team-mates.

"The night before our team matches in Antalya, we basically spent the time from dinner until bed making really embarrassing dance TikToks,” she said.

@jessicasagoo

♬ original sound - Jessica Sagoo

"I never knew they were such good dancers. I think Bryony is the funniest, but Jess is definitely one of the best dancers out of us.

"Speaking to my teammates has helped me a lot, learning from their advice and how to cope with success. They calm your nerves because you've got people you love and trust there to support you.”

Penny Healey's pet emu

The animal lover also leans on feathery friends in the shape of pet emus.

"We used to sell eggs and my stepdad in lockdown just decided to get a pet emu and we somehow ended up with three.

"They can be chill and the youngest one always comes along and wants cuddles."

The biggest moment of Penny Healey’s career so far came with World Cup gold in Antalya.

Having won European Grand Prix gold on home soil in Lilleshall in April, Healey soared to her first individual World Cup title in Turkey.

Britain's number 1 archer

In doing so she earned world No.1 status, emulating British teammate Bryony Pitman, who won gold at the same event in 2022.

“It feels amazing, after that last arrow I was like ‘did it do it or not’ but I can’t believe it’s happened. It feels unreal,” Healey said.

“I will be honest, I was so nervous. My legs were shaking and so were my arms but having [coach] Nicky Hunt in the box singing and dancing with me helped a lot.

“I am glad to follow in Bryony’s footsteps.”

Penny Healey setting her sights on gold at Paris 2024.

Healey clinched a quota spot for her maiden Olympic Games with a brilliant individual gold at the 2023 European Games and backed her performance up with team qualification this June alongside Team GB teammates Bryony Page and Megan Havers.

"I want to be at my peak in 2024 so I'm going to be basing my training around that this year,” she said.

"I remember watching London 2012 and turning round to my mum and saying that I wanted to go to the Olympics one day and that's what I've been working towards my entire career.

"I hope to one day be world number one and have an Olympic medal.

"I don't think I will retire until I have done that as well as become world champion as I'm quite a determined person."

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