MEDELLIN, Colombia — American Liko Arreola made history by becoming the youngest ever medallist in an individual event at the Archery World Cup.
Fifteen-year-old Arreola made it a World Cup debut to remember as the teenage talent claimed double gold at Stage 3 in Colombia.
First, she was a member of the compound women’s team which defeated the host nation 233-231, alongside Olivia Dean – who, at 16, is also making her World Cup debut – and Alexis Ruiz.
Arreola then denied Colombia a second time as she held her nerve to beat Sara Lopez in the compound women’s gold medal match. The quietly spoken Arreola let her archery do the talking as she won a tense contest to become the youngest individual medalist at a World Cup.
The teenager beat local multiple world champion Sara Lopez in a one-on-one duel in Medellin, Colombia, that ended tied at 145-145 before Arreola won a one-arrow shoot-off with a brilliant 10, Reuters reported.
The Hawaii native not only won gold in the individual category but, along with Alexis Ruiz and Olivia Dean, was also part of the US team that defeated Colombia 233-231 in the women’s compound final.
“I was so nervous the whole fight. I tried not to give up and did my best but it was nerve-racking,” Arreola told World Archery.
With the victory, Arreola has a direct pass to the grand final of the circuit in Mexico in September.
At no stage did Arreola lead, trailing by as many as three points after the first three ends, and yet – seemingly unfazed – she stuck to the process only to force a one-arrow shoot-off, which she won with a 10!
Arreola had earlier won her semi-final encounter with Sarah Prieels (BEL) 146-144. Prieels then took bronze after a 145-144 win over a battling Ruiz, who had lost her semifinal 147-146 to Lopez.
The men took silver and bronze in the compound division, with medals for James Lutz and Nick Kappers. Lutz overcame his USA teammate Kappers in the semifinals, firing a perfect score in winning 150-146. He was then beaten in the gold medal match by India’s Abhishek Verma 148-146.
Kappers added to the USA’s medal tally as he defeated Luccas Abreu of Brazil, 148-143, to take bronze. Individual gold, silver and bronze, plus a team gold, it was a very good day for the USA!
Sunday brings more opportunities for USA medals as the recurve division brings down the curtain in Colombia.
Brady Ellison and Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez come together to take on Korea in the recurve mixed team gold medal match.
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