PARIS — In a thrilling conclusion to the men's individual archery event at the Paris Olympics, South Korean archer Kim Woo-jin clinched the gold medal in a sudden-death shoot-off against American Brady Ellison, solidifying a historic achievement for himself and his country.
According to Yonhap News Agency, after five sets of intense competition, Kim and Ellison were tied at 5-5, each having scored perfect 30s in the final set. Kim, taking the first shot in the shoot-off, and Ellison both scored 10s, but Kim’s arrow landed closer to the center by a mere 5 millimeters, securing his victory and South Korea’s clean sweep of all five archery gold medals in this year's games. This sweep included the men's and women's individual and team events, as well as the mixed team title, marking South Korea as the first nation to win five archery golds at a single Olympics.
Kim’s triumph in Paris is not just a personal milestone but also a historic moment for South Korean sports. He now holds more Olympic gold medals than any other South Korean athlete across all sports, a total of five, surpassing the records of other legendary athletes in the country. Kim is also the first male archer to win three gold medals in a single Olympics, a feat previously achieved by South Korean women archers An San in 2021 and Lim Si-hyeon at the same Paris Games.
Reflecting on his win, Kim shared, "I did my absolute best, thinking this would be my last arrow ever (in the Olympics). And with the five gold medals, I think we've proven once again we're the best." This victory was particularly significant as it filled the last gap in his illustrious career, giving him his first Olympic individual medal after previous successes in team events.
Kim's continued dominance in archery underscores the depth and resilience of South Korea's talent in the sport, known for its rigorous national team trials and the high turnover of Olympic-level competitors. His participation in three consecutive Olympics is a testament to his enduring skill and commitment, marking him as only the fourth South Korean archer to achieve this feat.