This rodeo-watching, Leo-lookalike archer is on our must-watch list during this year's Olympic games.
Brady Ellison may be “just a country boy who loves to shoot his bow,” as he describes himself in his Twitter bio, but the two-time Olympic silver medalist in archery brings more to the games than just his impressive competition results. While winning medals at both the 2012 London Games and more recently in Rio, the Arizona native has also been making headlines for his uncanny similarity to our January 2016 cover man, Leonardo DiCaprio. Add Ellison's true, heartfelt commitment to his Western roots to all that and you'll see why he's on our must-watch list for this year's Olympic games.
Ellison was born in Miami, Arizona, and spends what little free time he has hunting, fishing, and attending NFR’s Cowboy Christmas and rodeos. If his hobbies aren't proof enough, the 27-year-old wears his cowboy-country pride on the outside. He can always be seen in competitions hiding his shaggy blond locks underneath a fishhook-decorated baseball cap or, in some interviews, a cowboy hat.
Furthermore, his most indispensable archery accessory is his enormous signature belt buckle that reads, “Remembering Lane Frost.” He claims the late professional bull rider, who died in Wyoming during a competition in 1989, as his idol. The buckle is Ellison’s lucky charm, and he never competes without it. It seems to be working, as he’s ranked among the most talented archers in the world after winning his third World Cup recurve championship.
Ellison is currently still on track for a gold medal in the men’s individual competition in Rio. His next match will be held at 1:39 p.m. CST Friday, August 12, against Takaharu Furukawa of Japan.
Check NBC Olympics for more information.
