Gellenthien, Ellison react to first World Cup Final in USA

The USA will host the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final for the first time in the circuit’s 15-year history at the end of 2021 when the season-ending event runs back-to-back with the Hyundai World Archery Championships in the Yankton hub.

“It’s an honour to wear our nation’s colours at each and every event, and it will feel that much more special to wear it in a home environment,” said world number one Braden Gellenthien, who won the season opener last month in Guatemala City.

That victory booked Braden a spot at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final, wherever it would be held.

He’s now guaranteed to be joined by a second compound man from the USA, since the host country of the event reserved one invitation place in each of the four competition categories. USA Archery will decide who fills those spots.

It’s a luxury the USA team has never had before.

“The ultimate goal of every season is to qualify for the World Cup Final. I’m incredibly excited to have put myself in a prime position after the first stage of the season, and it definitely takes the pressure off going forward,” said Gellenthien.

“Now I can focus on my technique and performance processes, and allow the results to take a back seat.”

It’s pressure off for Brady Ellison, too, in terms of his campaign for a sixth Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion title.

Having qualified so well at the first stage in Guatemala, he had a disappointing finish, losing his first match to Gijs Broeksma. With only three stages on this season’s calendar, it quickly reduced his opportunities to qualify for the final.

Following the Yankton announcement, he might not need to.

“To think my quest for the next title will be here in the US is really exciting,” said Ellison. “Having it right after the worlds makes a lot of sense with the climate right now. We can have all the best right here and only travel once. This is brilliant.”

Of course, Brady won’t be turning up to stage two in Lausanne in under two weeks and the third and last leg in Paris in June with anything less than victory on his mind.

But it has to be comforting knowing that, even if things don’t go quite to plan, he’s still likely headed to the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final – with a shot at that historic sixth circuit crown – in Yankton.