Compound shooter Lopez clinches her ninth World Cup title in a heartfelt moment.
In a thrilling finale, Lopez showcases her skill and determination, solidifying her legacy in the sport.
Sara Lopez achieved an incredible milestone by winning her ninth Hyundai World Cup Final in Tlaxcala on Saturday, further solidifying her status as the greatest compound women’s archer of all time.
The Colombian athlete triumphed over the USA's Alexis Ruiz and Mexico's home crowd favorite Dafne Quintero in the quarter and semi-finals, respectively, before defeating World Cup Final debutant Meeri-Marita Paas from Estonia to reclaim her place at the top of archery's premier international circuit.
Overcome with emotion after her victory, Lopez struggled to sing her national anthem as tears streamed down her face.
“I’m not quite sure what happened with that last arrow,” Lopez said in her post-match interview. “I think I shot it instinctively. It was only when I heard Jean (her coach) calling out '10' that I realized it hit the mark.
“On the first day, I was cheering for her because I could see she was nervous about her first final. In the end, I thought, it doesn’t matter if I don’t win; I know I’ve made history. The goal is to be happy and enjoy today, and that worked in my favor.”
At just 29, Lopez is a young veteran of the sport, having been on the World Cup circuit since she was 17. Now in her twelfth season and with this being her tenth Final, she continues to add to her impressive collection of medals, which includes a World Championship gold, a Pan American Games gold, and four Pan American Championship medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze). Lopez is proving in 2024 that true talent endures.
Despite a lively atmosphere in warm Tlaxcala, with locals Andrea Becerra and Dafne Quintero competing for glory, it felt almost inevitable that Yankton 2021 champion Sara Lopez would repeat her success. She kicked off her quarter-final against American Alexis Ruiz with three perfect scores, ultimately winning 148-144.
Lopez faced a minor setback in her first end, scoring a 29 after dropping a nine, while Becerra posted a 30. Although Becerra has yet to secure major individual titles, she has been close, earning silver in Shanghai and Yecheon this year and at last year’s World Championships.
However, Lopez quickly regained her momentum, responding with four consecutive perfect scores that Becerra couldn’t match.
In the gold medal match against 2022 Indoor World Series silver medallist Meeri-Marita Paas, Lopez found herself on the back foot after dropping three nines in the first two ends. Yet, she maintained her composure, shooting three perfect ends to finish with a score of 147, just edging out Paas’s 146.
After her victory, emotions ran high as Lopez hinted that 2024 might be her last year on the shooting line for a while. “I don’t know if it will be next year or the year after,” she said regarding her plans for a tenth World Cup title. “I will make decisions based on my personal career. I will transition to indoor shooting and focus on that. To be honest, I’m not sure if I’ll achieve it.”
For the enthusiastic home crowd, there was still reason to celebrate as Quintero secured the bronze medal, guaranteeing Mexico a medal after both she and Becerra lost in the semi-finals. Quintero's podium finish mirrored her performance at last year’s World Cup Final in Hermosillo, Mexico.
The excitement continues this weekend in Tlaxcala, with the recurve men’s and women’s finals taking place tomorrow, available to stream on Archery+.
