The number one men’s seed has been eliminated early from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Germany’s Florian Unruh beat Korea’s Kim Je Deok in five sets, 7-3, in the second round of eliminations in the archery arena at Yumenoshima Park on Tuesday.
“In my thoughts, he would be better, but my only goal was to shoot good and use the opportunities,” said Unruh.
“If I’m honest, I thought my chance was a little bit less. A chance, of course, everyone has a chance here. It’s a finals field, it’s a match, not many arrows – so, a chance, of course.”
Kim is already a double gold medallist at these Games, having won in the mixed team and men’s team events.
He beat Areneo David in the first round of individual matchplay and opened his second match against Unruh with a perfect 30. But then cracks appeared. Devoid of the roars that punctuated his team performances, Je Deok simply shot too many eights.
“Every athlete who participates in these Games, they’re all going to say it’s bad. But I think I will have lots of opportunities in the future, so I don’t feel so bad. I will have another chance,” said Kim.
Though he will finish with a 17th-place individual ranking, the 17-year-old has been one of the most exciting stories of these Games.
If he maintains his current trajectory, the youngster – who has been described as one of the most exciting talents of the past 100 years by his peers in Korea – will surely be back for another shot at Olympic gold.
This is the second consecutive Olympics at which the top-seeded archer from Korea has been eliminated in the second round.
Five years ago, it was Riau Salsabilla upsetting Kim Woojin.
This time, it’s Unruh playing the hero.
“One of the biggest wins, yes,” said Unruh. “I shot good. I think I took all the opportunities he gave me, and I‘m very happy.”
The archery competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games continue with more early-round individual eliminations on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 July 2021.
