Never Missed a Gold Medal Since the 1988 Seoul Games
Intense National Selection Followed by Team-Focused Practice... Emphasis on Composure
Special Training and Simulation Exercises Creating Similar Environments
Set score 4-0. They were also leading the 3rd set 26-23. Even a tie would secure the gold medal. However, there was no room for contingency in the minds of the women's archery national team. They drew their bows as usual. The youngest, An San (Gwangju Women’s University), showed no hesitation. From preparation to shooting took only 6 seconds. The arrow hit the bullseye directly. Kang Chae-young (Mobis) calmly brought the knocking point to her lips. The arrow she shot powerfully slightly missed the 10-point line. The points needed for victory were 6. Jang Min-hee (Incheon University) did not let her guard down. She drew the bow and observed the wind flow for 9 seconds. The arrow that left her right hand pierced the yellow target. 9 points. Set score 6-0 (55-54 56-53 54-51). It was the gold medal.
The women's archery national team, who participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, defeated the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on the 25th at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field in Tokyo, Japan, leaving an immortal achievement. It was their 9th consecutive Olympic gold medal in the women's team event. Since it was first adopted as an official event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, they have never lost the gold medal. This is a record tied for the most consecutive wins by a specific country in a specific event, achieved by 21 female archers. It stands alongside Kenya’s men’s 3000m steeplechase and the USA’s men’s 400m medley relay (both from 1984 to 2016). This feat was predicted by statistics that compiled results over the past decade. The probability of winning the gold medal was shown to be 78%. However, archery specialist Chris Wells said, "At Yumenoshima Park Archery Field, that possibility looked even greater."
"The wind was blowing irregularly. Mexico, the only opponent that could challenge Korea, was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Korean players handled it skillfully. While other players struggled with the wind, they averaged 9.24 points per arrow. They even scored 58 points in the first set of the quarterfinals against Italy."
The main contributor to the high score was An San, who had already won gold in the mixed team event. She took the lead and never missed the yellow target. Out of eighteen arrows, eight were 10 points. She greatly relieved the burden on her senior teammates. In archery, victory or defeat is decided by just a few centimeters and the slightest tremor. A meditative state of balance and equilibrium is crucial. The national team focuses on team event practice to enhance composure. They understand the personalities and characteristics of the players and assign appropriate roles. They rotate positions and compare records. By averaging scores, they identify who performs best and when. The first shooter requires not only good results but also boldness. Like An San, they must maintain routine and posture even in difficult situations.
Olympic experience is not important. Kang Chae-young, Jang Min-hee, and An San are all first-timers. They earned their spots by passing fierce national selection trials. After winning the gold medal, Kang Chae-young said, "All the preparation I had done flashed through my mind, and it was very moving." She narrowly missed the final selection for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. In the second round, she placed third behind Jang Hye-jin (LH) and Choi Mi-seon (Suncheon City Hall), but lost the overall points to Ki Bo-bae (Gwangju City Hall). Before this tournament, she ranked second in the first round and first in the second round. She received bonus points and wore the Taegeuk mark as number one. Her bow handling and breathing became stable. All movements were so practiced they were automatic. "After the Rio Olympics selection, I went through a slump, but my skills improved significantly. I learned a lot about how to approach competitions. By competing that way, I was able to focus on my performance."
Kang Chae-young also cited the Olympic-like environment as another secret. The Korea Archery Association conducted special training last May at the seaside of Jaeun Island, Sinan County, Jeollanam-do, considering Tokyo’s summer weather, humidity, and wind. They allowed the athletes to experience the constantly changing environment while facing sea breezes. They also created a set identical to the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field at the Jincheon National Training Center for simulation training. They installed an electronic scoreboard behind the target and provided conditions such as fading and glare that could affect aiming. A team official said, "Due to the spread of COVID-19, we anticipated the competition would be held without spectators, so we installed 200 empty seats, which turned out to be a correct prediction." The remaining matches at the comfortable Yumenoshima Park Archery Field are on the 28th for the individual event. Now, they are competitors to each other, just like the final selection for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics last April….
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