Wu Chunyan captures missing Paralympic medal with individual gold in Paris

After bagging silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, Wu Chunyan completed her collection of Paralympic medals with individual gold at the Paris 2024 Games.

The 34-year-old Chinese archer defeated her teammate Wu Yang in the recurve women’s final at Les Invalides today.

“I’m very excited,” she said. ”I’m so proud of myself! I’m the super queen!”

The multi-medallist joyfully celebrated her fifth medal after winning mixed team gold and bronze, as well as the individual silver and bronze, in the past two Games.

Facing teammate Yang could only make her feel more relaxed at the shooting line. 

“I didn’t have pressure on myself,” Chunyan said. “Whoever won, gold would always go to China.”

“I just focused on myself to compete 100% on my level,” the new Paralympic Champion added, describing her approach.

Elisabetta Mijno won her second individual Paralympic medal after 12 years, her fourth overall.

Despite her successful Games background, Wu Chunyan came to Paris not having her eyes on medals. 

“I could never imagine I would reach a medal. Gold definitely wasn’t my goal, when I arrived here.”

Taking the second seed made her hopes grow, as she realised her performance was good enough to compete for the top spots.  

“When the ranking round was over, I found myself in second, and it gave me a lot of confidence,” Chunyan admitted. “I started believing I could go far in the Paralympics. I took it step by step, and finally got it.”

As silver went to Wu Yang, Italy’s Mijno claimed her second individual medal in 12 years, bronze, at her fifth successive Games.

The 38-year-old ended a long wait, having previously medalled individually at the Paralympics in London 2012.  

“I feel happy, it’s a medal,” she said. “Of course, gold would be better, but a medal at the Paralympics is an important moment in an athlete’s life.”

Mijno’s collection also includes a bronze medal in Rio and silver in Tokyo, both in the mixed team event.

The Italian archer seeded top 11 points ahead of Wu Chunyan and faced just one defeat in Paris, against the second Chinese woman Wu Yang, before deafeating Mongolia’s Selengee Demberel for bronze. 

“I think my shooting could be enough for gold or silver, but I take it as it is,” Elisabetta concluded.

Competition in Paris continues with recurve men’s elimination and medal matches on Wednesday.

Podium: Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Full results on the event page.

Recurve women

1. Wu Chunyan, China
2. Wu Yang, China
3. Elisabetta Mijno, Italy