Colombian compound archer Pablo Gómez Zuluaga won the gold medal at the fourth stage of the Archery World Cup in Madrid.
The competition took place from July 7 to 12, with 371 athletes from 46 countries competing; Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the USA represented the Americas.
Gómez had previously won the team gold medal at the first stage of the World Cup in Puebla, but this is the first time the 24-year-old archer has won an individual medal on the world circuit.
In the compound men’s gold medal match, he faced Mike Schloesser of the Netherlands, currently ranked number 2 in the world and the gold medalist at the third stage in Antalya.
Schloesser started the match with a perfect score and a one-point lead.
The Colombian managed to keep his composure and tie the score in the second end.
The match remained close, with neither competitor holding a clear advantage.
In the final end, both archers were tied until the Dutchman’s last arrow, which scored a 9.
Gómez needed a 10 on his last arrow to win, and he did it.
In addition to the gold medal, the Colombian’s victory earned him a spot in the World Cup final in Saltillo, Mexico.
Colombia also won the gold medal in the compound women’s team event.
Sara López, Mariana Rodríguez, and Alejandra Usquiano, who qualified in first place, defeated the Indian team 232 to 228 points.
Mexico won two silver medals: the first in the compound men’s team event with Miguel Becerra, Rodrigo Olvera, and Elias Reyes, and the second in the compound mixed team event with Becerra and Ximena Estrada.
The final medal for the continent went to the USA. Catalina Gnoriega, Casey Kaufhold, and Jennifer Mucino won the recurve women’s team silver medal.