Kaufhold among NBC Olympics’ top 100 athletes to watch at Paris 2024

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Casey Kaufhold had her most successful season in 2023, becoming the number-one-ranked recurve woman in the world for the first time in her career and collecting her first Hyundai Archery World Cup stage win in Paris. And just last weekend, she was crowned Pan American Champion in Medellin.

The run of results earned her a place on NBC Olympics’ list of 100 athletes to watch in Paris, alongside reigning men’s Olympic Champion Mete Gazoz. Future success in the French capital on the cards?

“The win in Paris felt very special because I had a great experience on what will be the Olympic stage,” said the 20-year-old. “It gives me confidence that if I can do it once, I can do it again.”

Kaufhold outperformed local hero Lisa Barbelin in that final, delivering in pressure in the fifth set to secure gold.

“I don’t see the win as additional pressure. I use it as motivation for next year,” she said at the time.

As well as winning the individual continental title last weekend in Medellin, the USA recurve women won the team event, upgrading Kaufhold’s individual Olympic ticket to a full quota of three archers.

Kaufhold made her debut on the Hyundai Archery World Cup at the age of 15. Young in years, she’s already rich in experience.

“Honestly, I don’t think of age as a big factor in this situation,” Kaufhold claimed. “I pictured myself being in this position by now.”

“Archery is becoming a younger sport as the years go on, so to me, it feels normal to achieve all this by 19.”

Born to an archery family – the Kaufholds founded and own Lancaster Archery Supply – Casey has received incredible support towards her sporting dream, but contributed more than her own fair share of determination… and talent.

“I hope I inspire young archers to chase their dreams and one day follow in my footsteps,” she said.

Paris has brought good things for Kaufhold.

She and Brady won her first international gold there in 2022, a mixed team victory, before she paved the way to that breakthrough result last year at the dress rehearsal for what’s shaping up to be the next significant highlight in her rocketing career.

“I feel like I finally got my foot through the door on the finals stages,” Kaufhold said at the time. “I want to keep this ball rolling and peak at the right time.”

Casey won’t be new to the Olympic aura when she enters the arena in Paris. She competed at the Games in Tokyo, which took place in 2021 during the pandemic. 

“I am really looking forward to it,” she said. “I’ve gained a lot of experience since Japan and feel that I am really working towards my goals.”

“I am also excited to have a ‘normal’ Olympic experience compared to the regulations of Tokyo.”

There, she made it to the second round individually and reached the team quarterfinals alongside Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez and Mackenzie Brown. It was valuable experience for Casey.

“I learned a lot after Tokyo. I learned that I had to trust myself and all the practice shots I put in. I’ve used a lot of what I learned from Tokyo in my good tournaments in 2023,” she said.

After a tricky start at last year’s World Cup stages in Antalya and Medellin, she upped her level to finish in the final four at the last three major events of the year. As well as the win in Paris, Kaufhold came in fourth both at the Hyundai World Archery Championships and the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final. 

Consistency is key – and that’s what pushed her to number one in the world.

“It took me a lot of hard work to get there,” she said. “It’s something I need to take care of, because if you sit back and settle for one moment, it will go away. I have to keep working even though I reached it already.”

Words of wisdom – and words that make Casey one to watch this year, and plenty to come.