PARIS — South Korean archer Lim Si-hyeon won her third gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, making history as the country's first triple gold medalist in France. Lim secured her latest victory in the women's archery individual event, defeating her compatriot Nam Su-hyeon 7-3 in a set score at Invalides.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lim's performance marked the first all-South Korean final in women's archery in two decades, showcasing her dominance by also winning earlier in the women's team and mixed team events. Lim joins French swimmer Leon Marchand, with four golds, and Australian swimmer Mollie O'Callaghan, with three, as the only athletes to win at least three golds in these games. The victory contributed to South Korea's total of nine gold medals at the current Olympics.
The competition was fierce and nearly led to a third Olympic podium sweep for South Korea in the women's individual event, a feat previously achieved only in Seoul 1988 and Sydney 2000. However, South Korean archer Jeon Hun-young was bested by France's Lisa Barbelin in the bronze medal match, falling 6-4 after losing to Lim in the semifinals.
In the finals, Lim and Nam started strong, each scoring 29 in the first set. Lim then took a decisive lead in subsequent sets, despite a strong comeback attempt by Nam, who scored a perfect 30 in the fourth set. Ultimately, Lim's consistent performance, including a perfect 30 in the third set, secured her victory.
Reflecting on her win, Lim emphasized the joy and relaxation she felt competing against a teammate. "We were both going to win a medal either way, so I just wanted to have fun, regardless of the result," she said. "In this final, I was just trying to do everything I wanted to do. The gold medal just followed."
Lim's triumph also highlights the impact of the mixed team event, introduced in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, which offers archers the chance to win three golds in a single Olympics—a feat first achieved by South Korea's An San in Tokyo.