Brazil’s recurve open mixed team, made up of Francisco Cordeiro and Fabiola Dergovics, did not have high expectations heading into the first round of eliminations.
With the 12th seed, the Brazilians knew that the number-five ranked Koreans would be hard to beat.
“We’ve worked very hard to be here, but we know everybody else has too,” Dergovics said. “We knew their talents were different than ours and were ready to enjoy the experience.”
The crowd erupted with every arrow the duo shot.
Dergovics and Cordeiro shot nothing other lower than an eight, securing a solid average to defeat Korea, 5-1.
“We knew the competition was going to be very hard but we just shot the best we could,” Dergovics said. “The people were just amazing. They were loud and spirited and helped us do better.”
Dergovics, who lives in San Paulo, is a life-long athlete. She started archery in 2013 after an accident, but before that competed in volleyball and street running. Cordeiro, a surfer from Niterói, has been shooting since 2011 and hopes to claim his first competitive medal in Rio.
He was overwhelmed by the crowd support during the elimination round.
“This feeling is just indescribable,” Dergovics said. “The support that we were shown really lifted us to new heights.”
The Brazilians weren’t the only team with an early morning upset.
Mongolia seeded 11th and defeated six-ranked Germany, 5-3. Oyun-Erdene Buyanjargal credited her success to her partner, Dambadondog Baatarjav.
“I looked over at him and saw how relaxed he was,” Buyanjargal said. “I got relaxed, too – and let it flow. My style was so much better thanks to that.”
The duo played off each other’s strengths to stay focused.
“Being next to each other was motivating, I knew that we were in it together,” Baatarjav said. “I didn’t want to let her down.”
Rio 2016 marks the first Paralympics to include mixed team events.
The para archery competition at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games runs 10-17 September in the Sambodromo.
