December 07, 2024 Photo by World Archery COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Archery has appointed the esteemed Elias Cuesta as the new National Head Coach, succeeding the long-tenured KiSik Lee. Cuesta’s selection comes after a comprehensive global search that attracted numerous qualified candidates vying for this prestigious position in the realm of archery. “Leading archery […]
December 07, 2024
Photo by World Archery
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Archery has appointed the esteemed Elias Cuesta as the new National Head Coach, succeeding the long-tenured KiSik Lee.
Cuesta’s selection comes after a comprehensive global search that attracted numerous qualified candidates vying for this prestigious position in the realm of archery.
“Leading archery for one of the most successful delegations in Olympic history is the highest honor a coach can achieve,” stated Coach Cuesta.
He joins USA Archery after serving as Head Coach for both the Spanish Olympic Team and the Spanish National Team for six years, while also coaching at the Madrid High Performance Center during this period.
Originally from Granada in southern Spain, Cuesta previously held the role of Coach for the National Sports Technique Plan under the Royal Spanish Archery Federation. He possesses degrees in Physical Activity and Sport, as well as Technical Physical and Sports Activities. Additionally, Cuesta is a personal trainer with several coaching certifications in archery.
Since Cuesta took on the coaching role, some impressive accomplishments of the Spanish Team include:
- Guided several Olympians
- Facilitated multiple athletes’ participation in the World Cup Final
- Achieved two gold and three silver medals at the European Championships
- Secured four gold, four silver, and five bronze medals at World Cup events
- Won five medals at the European Games
- Earned three medals at the World Archery Youth Championships.
- Under his coaching, the men’s and mixed teams reached world rankings of number two, while the women’s team ranked number six.
Cuesta’s archery pathway commenced in the summer of 1989, inspired by his father. He reflected, “I owe him my gratitude because archery is my passion, and I cherish it. Remarkably, everything unfolded rather swiftly.
“In 2000, following the youth national championship, I was invited to a national training camp. Upon entering the facilities and seeing the national team athletes, I recognized: ‘this is where I aspire to train and the life I wish to lead.’ After enduring rigorous training at home, just three years later, I became an athlete at the national center.”
As an athlete, Cuesta trained under diverse coaches. Alongside several Spanish mentors, he benefitted from the expertise of Stanislav Zabrodskiy (Russia), Samo Medved (Slovenia), and Cho Hyung-mok (Korea), significantly enriching his understanding of the sport.
Cuesta participated in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, representing Spain in five World Archery Championships and 16 World Cup stages.
“As an athlete, my dream was to become an Olympian, which is why my most significant moment was competing in the 2012 London Olympics. However, regarding achievements, breaking numerous national records holds a special place,” Cuesta shared. “I’ve also acquired various international medals at both individual and team levels and have taken part in over 50 international competitions.”
Cuesta takes the reins from KiSik Lee, who dedicated 18 years and five Olympic cycles to the role of National Head Coach for USA Archery. During Lee’s tenure, USA archers amassed over 300 medals in the Archery World Cup circuit—more than any other country—with nearly half of these being gold. The USA secured five Olympic medals from 2012 through 2024, including two recurve golds at the World Archery Championships.
Cuesta reminisced about his predecessor, “Throughout my athletic career, I was always eager to learn from others and observe the best practices. One aspect that piqued my interest was that athletes trained by Coach Lee (first in Australia and then in the USA) consistently performed well and achieved success, which led me to buy his initial book to see what insights I could acquire.
“At that time, I was studying sports science and had some knowledge of biomechanics, anatomy, and training methods, and for the first time, I encountered someone who discussed archery from a scientific perspective.
“When I embarked on my coaching journey, one individual whom I deeply respect and from whom I learned significantly about mental strategies was Ignacio Gomez-Sancha.
“He advised me that if I aimed to become the world’s top coach, I needed to learn from the best. When he inquired who I considered the best coach globally, I responded with KiSik Lee. He then encouraged me to absorb as much knowledge from him as possible and develop my unique training system, which I did.
“Coach Lee has always inspired me and will continue to do so. I am immensely grateful for all he has done for me and what he has contributed to archery. He feels like a paternal figure in this sport.”
An advisory committee—comprising an Olympian, an elite coach, and a former independent board member with a multi-sport background—assisted USA Archery CEO, Rod Menzer, during the search and selection process.
“Our objective at USA Archery was to identify the finest coach to continue our initiatives, support our athletes, nurture champions, and secure Olympic medals. With Elias Cuesta, we have precisely that. We are thrilled to welcome him to USA Archery,” stated CEO Rod Menzer.
“He is a dedicated student of the sport, respected by archers, coaches, and federations globally, and has a remarkable personal touch. He possesses the drive, enthusiasm, and commitment to advance archery in the USA. Elias understands what it takes to be an Olympian both as an athlete and a coach.”
Cuesta is a well-known figure on the international stage and will be well-acquainted with the USA’s top archers.
While he respects the National Training System (NTS) established by KiSik Lee, Cuesta adapts his coaching style based on what is most effective for each athlete. He believes in the NTS but remains flexible, focusing on techniques that enhance each archer’s performance.
“My coaching philosophy hinges on two core principles. First, I emphasize the process to bring out the team’s maximum potential while meticulously attending to every detail and allowing the results to unfold naturally; and secondly, I focus on the mental aspects of archery to foster a winning mindset.”
Coach Cuesta expressed his intent to “restore the United States to its deserving place in the archery world.”
He added, “I am incredibly excited to collaborate with the most skilled archers globally. The upcoming LA28 Olympics will enhance the drive of the entire team. We are committed to making our country proud of its archers.”
With Chris Webster continuing as Assistant Head Coach and the Head Coach for the National Elite Program in North Carolina, the USA boasts a coaching team that is unparalleled worldwide.
Coach Webster remarked, “I am thrilled to welcome a coach of Elias Cuesta’s stature to the USA Archery team. His achievements and standing are remarkable, and I eagerly anticipate working alongside him to help our athletes realize their utmost potential. He is well-reputed among our athletes and maintains a great team-oriented approach.”
USA Archery CEO, Rod Menzer, concluded, “We were incredibly privileged to have Coach Lee lead us for nearly two decades and are confident that Coach Cuesta will build upon that legacy and bring us further success.
“With so many gifted archers and our hosting of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, our new National Head Coach is joining us at an incredibly exciting juncture.”
Coach Cuesta will commence his role at USA Archery in January from Chula Vista, Calif., overseeing the Resident Athlete program in addition to his responsibilities with the U.S. teams.
