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An San celebrates Olympic anniversary with win in Medellin

24 July 2022

Medellin, Colombia

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The final session of the final stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup saw Korea's world number one pair of An San and Kim Woojin win the recurve women's and men's individual titles in Medellin, Colombia.

"It's very memorable for me this month because I got the gold medals a year ago," said An about her triple podium-topping performance 12 months previously in Japan (she won the recurve women's individual and team event plus the recurve mixed team event).

"Then now, this year too, so I'm very happy.”

Top seed An headed up an all-Korean podium after defeating Lee Gahyun 6-2 in the final. It was the second Korean match-up in a row for Gahyun, who had beaten Kang Chae Young in her semifinal by the same score (6-2). An saw off Germany's Katharina Bauer in the final four.

“I've competed with Korean archers and it was quite hard for me," added An. "We know each other so well, so I was more nervous, but I tried to focus on my game and then I did it.”

“I've been first in the qualification and also our team won the gold medal so I'm personally very satisfied with the stage.”

Kim Woojin dropped just three points in his gold medal clash against Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Mauro Nespoli, winning 7-1.

“It took a long time for me to come to Colombia. Even though I had a hard time adjusting to the time zone, I'm really happy that I have [had] a great performance this time," said Kim, who recorded his second stage win of the season following his first in Gwangju in May.

An and Kim's thoughts now turn to the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Tlaxcala, Mexico next October.

Joining them will be a relieved five-time Hyundai Archery World Cup Final Champion, Brady Ellison, who was not shooting on Sunday. Instead, he was relying on teammate Jack Williams to lose so he could go through to Mexico instead, on ranking points.

Kim ensured that happened, seeing off Williams 6-4 in the semifinal.

“I didn't think [about] any of that. I just did what I had to do," said Kim. "I just focused only on my game. I didn't think about other things rather than my own game."

Miguel Alvarino Garcia responded in the best possible way to his 1-7 semifinal defeat against Nespoli, defeating Williams 6-4 for bronze.

"I am very happy because I have not arrived at my top moment of the season," said Alvarino, who finished on the individual podium for the third time this year following his gold and 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final ticket in Antalya and bronze in Gwangju.

"I knew I had options because I'm shooting very well this year, but I didn't count on getting here. The first match of the week I was pretty upset because I didn't feel comfortable shooting, but in the next one I started to feel good and well, here we are."

"My plan wasn't to be in the top four. Obviously, you always want to win and that's what I did, make the best out of what is a bad day."

"I already need a vacation to be able to get strength for the World Cup Final," he added. "15 days without the bow."