Lim Sihyeon shatters world record to open Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Lim Sihyeon shot a world record of 694 points to lead recurve women’s qualifying in the first session of competition at Paris 2024 as her Korean team also set a new Olympic record.

“It’s my first Olympics so I wanted to give it everything,” she said. “I prepared for it. And then I just tried to enjoy it. The result followed.”

Lim’s score is two more than the previous world best of 692, set by Kang Chae Young at the Hyundai World Archery Championships in 2019. It’s 14 points more than the Olympic record of 680 set by An San three years ago.

In near-perfect weather, Lim dropped just seven points over her first 36 arrows and was on pace for a 700-plus 72-arrow round.

Only two archers – both men – have ever achieved that significant marker.

“It wasn’t like I prepared differently,” she added. “But the expectations of the people were different for this competition.”

As the only archer on the Korean women’s squad with international experience before this season, the pressure has fallen on Sihyeon to deliver a team-leading on-field performance at these Olympics. She rose to that challenge early.

A breeze picked up just as the halfway break concluded.

While Lim couldn’t maintain her blistering early pace, she still delivered an all-time great performance – that will undoubtedly help to quell the doubts surrounding the Korean women, who will attempt to win a 10th consecutive Olympic title in Paris.

“Qualification is just the beginning of everything. So instead of feeling the pressure, I will try to get through it, one by one,” concluded Sihyeon.

Nam Suhyeon (688) took second seed, also for Korea, while Yang Xiaolei of China shot 673, which was good for third.

World number one Casey Kaufhold (672) seeded fourth.

Personal bests for Türkiye’s Elif Gokkir (671) and Indonesia’s Diananda Choirunisa (670) in fifth and sixth.

Reigning World Archery Champion Marie Horackova was middle of the back, 31st, with 651, while reigning European Games Champion Penny Healey (631) was just 52nd.

Korea, China, Mexico and India collected the top four seeds in the recurve women’s team competition and will receive a bye directly into the quarterfinals.

Competition continues with recurve men’s qualifying this afternoon at Invalides.