Tokyo, Japan, July 30, 2021: Korean archer An San established herself as one of the stars of Tokyo 2020 by completing a golden hat trick at Yumenoshima Park Archery Field on Friday, July 30.
The 20-year-old phenom added the women’s individual title to the mixed team and women’s team gold medals she had earned earlier in the week, thereby becoming the first archer in the sport’s modern history to win three gold medals at one edition of the Games.
And she did it the hard way, with her victories in the semi-final and final both coming in tiebreaks.
“I feel really happy,” said An – the ninth Korean to win the women’s individual title at the Olympics.
“When I first won the mixed team event gold, I was wondering if I could win all three gold medals, and now I’ve done it, I feel so grateful.”
Having qualified top in Japan, she was the favourite.
Her path to the top spot of the individual podium, however, was fraught with danger – and An truly had to battle.
The first major obstacle appeared in the semifinals. She was tied with Mackenzie Brown after four sets of a high-quality tussle before An won the tiebreak with a 10.
The Korean then met a surging Elena Osipova, seeded 22nd from the Russian Olympic Committee, in the final.
Trailing after the opening two sets, Osipova won the two that followed. She was leading 5-3 and within a single set point of the Olympic title.
An was down. But she wasn’t out.
Displaying the poise, control and sheer precision that has embodied her performance at these Games, she shot two 10s with her final two arrows, delivering a 29-point set to close the match – and force another tiebreak.
She had chosen to shoot first at the start of the match, meaning she would open the shoot-off, too. She did so with a 10 – and the Russian responded with a 9 to settle for silver.
Source: World Archery