Long-time international Linda Ochoa-Anderson stepping back from Archery World Cup
After an international career spanning two decades, and two national teams, Linda Ochoa-Anderson has said that her appearance at the fourth stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup would be her last on the international circuit.
“I’ve been doing this since I was basically a kid so it’s basically shaped my whole life,” said the 35-year-old. “After the pandemic, I realised I actually liked being at home. So it was time to think about retiring.”
Ochoa-Anderson made her international debut for Mexico at the World Archery Championships in 2003.
She shot at the second-ever stage of the Archery World Cup in Antalya in 2006 – before recording her first individual podium on the circuit when she was runner-up two events later in Shanghai.
Over 15 seasons, not including 2019 when she took a year out to switch shirts and represent the USA, she’s accrued 41 stage appearances on the tour, with 21 total podiums including six golds.
Ochoa-Anderson has also made four circuit finals (2010, 2014, 2015 and 2018), taking bronze at the 2015 Archery World Cup Final on home soil in Mexico City and silver at the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Samsun.
Having secured a job outside archery during the pandemic, Linda will focus on her family – while continuing to compete domestically – rather than travelling to international events.
Linda’s husband Steve Anderson has also said he will step back from the US team, having last competed at the second stage of this year’s circuit in Gwangju, Korea.
Ochoa-Anderson’s final cap – in Medellin in July – brought a silver medal in the compound mixed team event.
“It felt great to be in the finals field one last time. I enjoyed every arrow and I’ll take every arrow as a memory forever,” she said afterwards.
Her partner on the field, former World Archery Champion Jimmy Lutz, said he was “honoured to be a part” of climbing the podium her last appearance on the tour, although he wished it had ended with a win.
Other athletes who paid tribute to one of international archery’s longest-tenured and most popular figures included Sara Lopez, Martin Damsbo and Dafne Quintero.
Damsbo called Linda “one of the key archers in raising the game while, as a person, always bringing good energy,” while Quintero said she hugged her to “thank her for everything she did” for her personally, as well as Mexican archery.
Lopez called Ochoa-Anderson a role model.
“There is nothing better than seeing an archer who you admire your whole life deciding to enjoy her life outside archery,” explained the former world number one.
“She contributed so much to this sport and it’s a relief to know that there are so many great things ahead for her. I’m not sad she’s leaving, I’m happy because she has made this decision while thinking about her personal life and future. I am happy for her.”
While we won’t see any more of Linda on the Hyundai Archery World Cup, she hasn’t closed the door on appearing at indoor events or future championships.
