Mexico’s women’s team win joyous bronze

Mexico won bronze in the recurve women’s team event on Sunday in Paris, in an exuberant display of shooting buoyed by noisy support in the stands – as well as a few hundred audible supporters outside the venue too.

It was the first ever women’s team medal for the country, after the mixed team took bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Angela Ruiz and Ana Vazquez were led out by the most experienced archer, four-time Olympian Alejandra Valencia.

“The work of all three of us allowed us to reach this historic medal for Mexico,” said the 29-year-old. 

“More than leading, I was just making sure that we all three of us would be working together as one and that to make sure we would trust the work of the others to keep on going.”

Mexico do not have official team captains, but the hugely experienced Valencia has nevertheless played that role.

“[The others] are young, but they can also teach me a number of things,” she said. 

The Paris crowd got fully behind Mexico, with easily the loudest support on (and off) the field.

“Thanks very much for the support of all the Mexicans. Many people made it possible for us to be sitting here today. They are the small grains of sand that came together to make something big,” said Valencia. 

Since 2021, the team have long settled into a rhythm with Alejandra opening the sets and Vasquez closing them.

“It’s a place I really enjoy” said 23-year-old Vazquez. “There are people that just don’t get along with it. And when I close I feel a lot of nerves and adrenaline. And I really like that.”

In their first quarterfinal, it took Mexico a while to find their feet against Germany, but they accelerated past them quickly to set up the semifinal.

The team were unlucky against second seeds China in the semifinal, amid swirling wind, but powered through the bronze medal match against the Netherlands 6-0, finishing their last three arrows with a 30.

Valencia refused to be drawn in the press conference afterwards about how long she would continue as an archer, after a long, successful international career that started back in 2010.

“I know that we can go further. We can. That is my answer to your question,” she said, smiling. 

The women’s competition continues with the individual eliminations beginning Tuesday 28 July.