Key takeaways
Alexis Ruiz doesn’t fold easily. So many archers in Ruiz’s position on Saturday afternoon would have wilted in the peculiar circumstances at Plaza de Armas. Her first match against Lisell Jaatma – the Shanghai 2026 winner – finished 143-143, setting up the second shoot-off they had shared at 50 metres this year after Shanghai’s 149-149 tie.
Jaatma had beaten Ruiz in May, but the American seemed to have got her own back when her nine appeared closer to the 10 than the Estonian’s. The judge initially raised her arm towards Jaatma’s target, making her the winner before the decision was swiftly overturned. Ruiz was left in tears, only to face the nine-time circuit champion Sara Lopez minutes later in the semifinals.
The Pan American gold medallist later admitted she could barely remember the match, but somehow composed her emotions well enough to defeat Dafne Quintero 145-144 for gold. The 27-year-old is known among her fellow athletes for her kindness and warmth, but Saltillo showed another side – a fighting spirit and determination not to let circumstances affect her shooting.
Nico Wiener’s big moment. Wiener has been one of the highest-ranked archers for years and was already a recognised world champion after winning at Yankton 2021. But his celebrations in Saltillo were something else.
After every 10 and X10 – and, inevitably, every win – against Nicolas Girard, Pablo Gomez Zuluaga and Mathias Fullerton, the Austrian fist-pumped, bellowed or both. With support from the family of his girlfriend, compound women’s world number one Andrea Maya Becerra Arizaga, the crowd soon joined in.
The celebrations and warm embrace with his mum afterwards showed how much the victory meant after years of work. The togetherness of the Wieners at the end will be relatable to many.
Marie Horackova’s quiet indoor season paid off. Compared with most top-ranked archers, Horackova had a quiet indoor season, competing only at the Swiss Open Lausanne 2025 – which she won – and the Nimes Archery Tournament.
She then skipped Puebla to give herself more time before beginning her 70-metre campaign, and the plan quickly paid off. She took silver at the European Grand Prix Spring Arrows, followed it with gold in Madrid and then became Czechia’s first-ever World Cup champion in Saltillo.
The 28-year-old’s decision to prioritise her outdoor season ultimately delivered the kind of peak performance every athlete strives for – at exactly the right time.
