When Garvin Pinette stepped onto the archery line at the 2025 World Police and Fire Games in Talladega, Alabama, it was more than just a competition it was the culmination of a deeply personal journey. Representing Manitoba across three demanding disciplines 3D Archery, Field, and Target Garvin delivered an unforgettable performance, bringing home three silver medals and proving that strength isn’t always measured in scores alone.
The event was hosted at the CMP Marksmanship Park, a $70-million facility nestled along the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. “Honestly, the feeling was incredible I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face,” Garvin said. “While the party didn’t quite match Winnipeg’s energy, the opening ceremonies and athletes’ parade were really well done. But the CMP Marksmanship Park? Unreal. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
For Garvin, archery has long been a grounding force. “Most people don’t know this, but I work in law enforcement and have been diagnosed with PTSD. It’s taken me to some dark places,” he shared. “Archery gave me focus, something that brought me peace. Just the idea of travelling anywhere can be overwhelming, so getting to Alabama was already a huge personal win.”
Thanks to the support of fellow competitors like Muc from Regina Police and Mike from Manitoba Corrections, Garvin found his footing early. “Day one was practice on a shaded rifle range. The moment I stepped onto the line, all the uncertainty disappeared. I knew why I was there,” he said. “It was surreal, reporters, spectators… I felt proud, but also almost unworthy of shooting at such a prestigious event.” He joked, “I kept getting pulled aside for interviews, must’ve been my good looks… or maybe the killer jersey the archery community helped me get!”
His first event, the 900 Round in Target Archery, came with challenges right from the start. A late shuttle meant he missed warm-up and couldn’t sight in his 50-meter pin. “I had my 60-meter and 40-yard marks, but I couldn’t touch my sight once the event started, so I had to improvise, shooting 50 and 40 meters using the gap between pins. Not ideal.” Despite the blazing heat, over 100°F and humid, and his draw arm cramping midway, Garvin kept his composure. “The bow was reacting to the heat, and the event felt like a marathon with long breaks between distances. But I treated every arrow like it was the first and stayed locked in. That was the real win, knowing I’d trained well enough to perform in those conditions.” Despite the conditions, Garvin finished second scoring, brining home his first silver of three medals.
3D Archery, the discipline he had trained hardest for, was up next. “Even when I’m leading, I’m rarely satisfied,” he admitted. With competitors struggling in the extreme heat, Garvin focused on every shot. A highlight of the round came when he approached a 40-meter Delta McKenzie turkey target. “I laughed thinking of Sean and the ASA tour, his commitment to challenging us is making Manitoba archers stronger every time. I nailed an 11 on that one and gained some ground.” He ultimately finished just four points behind a local shooter, earning another silver.
The final event, Field Archery, was where Garvin felt most in his element. “Three arrows at unknown distances, walking through the bush, that’s where I feel most at home,” he said. Shooting on uneven hillsides brought its challenges. “I wasn’t prepared to shoot on the side of a mountain or hill, but I learned to lean into the shot. One poor shot around 55 meters almost knocked me off the podium, but I kept pushing and managed to snag silver. That was the most rewarding moment of all.”
Leading up to the Games, Garvin shared parts of his training on Instagram, blending archery practice with strength and conditioning. Originally planning to compete in the Push/Pull lifting event, a hand injury forced him to shift his full attention to archery. “Coming from a football background, I knew conditioning mattered, especially for the ‘fourth quarter.’ Shooting after workouts wasn’t about strength but mental control. Those focused arrows, while exhausted, trained my concentration. That transferred directly into competition, managing nerves, heat, and the cameras. I learned how to reset and shoot with purpose, no matter what.”
By the final week of prep, Garvin felt ready. “With the time and resources I had, I couldn’t have done more. That gave me peace.” Instead of scrambling, he kept things light. “I just shot with friends and family, enjoying it. The work was already done.”
He reflected on how much he learned, not just about archery, but about himself. “People I thought were fitter than me struggled in that heat,” he said. “Shooting daily taught me a lot. You make bad shots. Sometimes you even put an arrow through your phone, yes, that happened. But you learn you can’t control everything. What matters is the next arrow. Recovery, not perfection, is what makes the difference.”
For anyone thinking about stepping into competitive archery, or considering the next WPFG, Garvin’s advice is simple: “Just do it. You’re good enough now, and you’ll only get better. Find your motivation and keep it fun. Train harder than you compete. But most importantly, connect with your community, because no one gets to a high level alone.”
Garvin also gave special thanks to the many people who supported him along the way. “I’ve been lucky. From day one, people were in my corner, even when they didn’t realize it. Sure, negativity exists. That’s life. But focus on the people who lift you.
We’ve got amazing coaches and archers here: James, Dave, Bailey, Chyler, Sylar, Cleo, Kadin, Jason, Niel, Sean, Allen, Austin, April, they gave me their time. And then some pushed me: Jeff, Curtis, Bhagyesh, Ed, Ken, Anj, Karl, John, Howard, Anika, Luke, Elliot, Kai, Anne, Vince, Chris, Stephen, Shane, Brendan, Olga, Wayne, Kyle, Dan, Kevin, Bobby, Aron, Hunter, Struan, Collen, Jared, Brad, Tom, Flatlanders, 17 Wing… the list is long, and I know I’ve missed some names.
But that’s the point: you’ve got to be willing to put yourself out there. If you don’t, the right people can’t find you.”
Garvin Pinette’s triple-silver performance is more than a medal count; it’s a testament to focus, grit, and community. From the forests of Manitoba to the firing lines of Alabama, his story reminds us that archery isn’t just a sport. It’s a path forward.
