The Yankton 2021 Hyundai World Archery Championships came to a close on Sunday, with Kim Woojin taking the crown with his third gold medal in as many events.
The Korean archer was one of two top seeds at the Yankton tournament, where they swept all of their competitions. A third stood out by defeating an unstoppable opponent.
Among the world’s best archers, who come from all walks of life, it takes someone truly exceptional to stand out.
The Best Archer in the World
Here are the three (entirely subjective) world championship performances that impressed us the most.
3) Casey Kaufhold
Who are they, exactly? American woman with a recurve shape.
Which way did they last leave off? Women’s individual recurve silver medalist.
Justification for their inclusion on this list would be appreciated. In a stunning upset, Casey Kaufhold defeated three-time Olympic champion An San on route to a silver medal performance in the semifinals at the 2018 World Championships in Yankton.
Before Kaufhold’s victory, An San was on track to win as many medals as she did in Tokyo, where she won three golds. Kaufhold, however, spoiled An San’s bid by placing third individually, making her the first American woman to do so in the recurve event since Denise Parker in 1989.
Only she, at age 17, can claim to have defeated the Olympic Champion this season.
2) Kim Woojin
Who are they, exactly? Korean archer with a recurve.
Which way did they last leave off? winner of three gold medals (individual, mixed, and team).
Justification for their inclusion on this list would be appreciated. With his victory in the recurve mixed and men’s team competitions for Korea, Kim Woojin earned a hat trick of gold medals in Yankton, becoming only the third man and fourth archer in history to win three individual world titles.
It was a stunning demonstration of consistency from Kim, who won his first individual crown a decade ago, and a triumphant return to the top step of the podium for the Korean men, who had previously won two straight bronze medals.
After his incredible performance in Yankton, his 29 years on our planet have done wonders for his reputation as a sports star.
1) Sara Lopez
Who are they, exactly? Colombian female who specialises in compounding.
Which way did they last leave off? Winner of three gold medals (in the individual, mixed, and team events).
Justification for their inclusion on this list would be appreciated. In Yankton, Colombia’s Sara Lopez had a faultless campaign, winning both the compound mixed and women’s team golds for her country and then taking home her maiden global title as an individual.
She shot a perfect 150-point match in the semifinals on her way to securing the final major award that had been missing from her otherwise stellar career, and in doing so, she became the first archer to win all three gold medals available.
At the fifth world championship, Lopez had a chance to win the title she had been seeking: “It was something list on my list,” she said, “and now I can remove it and establish new goals.” Later this week, in the same venue, Lopez will compete for a record-tying sixth title at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final.
Last Words
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