1. Alexis Ruiz, USA
Horackova had to battle the Mexican crowd, but Ruiz had to battle something much more serious: an exit.
That might sound a strange concept considering we are sitting here just under a week after she became the third USA athlete to win the tour’s compound women trophy, but there was a brief moment where Ruiz was one of the first ones to leave Plaza de Armas.
In a 143-143 shoot-off against the Shanghai winner Lisell Jaatma, both archers dropped close nines, but it still visibly seemed that Ruiz had gained those vital extra few millimetres to the spider, even maybe brushing the 10. To be precise, it was 40.99 millimetres to Jaatma’s 42.5, but the line judge accidentally raised the arm towards Jaatma’s target.
There was sheer bewilderment on the shooting line from Ruiz and legendary coach Mel Nichols, as well as behind it, as they swiftly filed an appeal form which was duly accepted.
Within a matter of 30 crazy minutes, though, Ruiz found herself on the field against none other than Sara Lopez – the compound women great looking for World Cup trophy number 10. Lopez was favoured to get 10 in Saltillo by many, so shooting against her would have been daunting for anyone, let alone going up on stage when your dream of lifting the same trophy had been momentarily shattered minutes before.
It was therefore just as much a shock when the Colombian couldn’t get an arrow on her bow’s rest and missed the resulting shot.
Still, you’ve got to beat what’s in front of you, and double Pan American gold medallist Ruiz did just that before defeating Dafne Quintero 145-144 in the final.
Ruiz called it an “emotional rollercoaster” and yet, even at its steepest drop, she was able to ride it out.
Of course, she was upset following the Jaatma match, but controlling her mind state even when the outcome eventually rewarded her is such a difficult skill. Ruiz didn’t let the circumstances affect her shooting, not one bit – a very inspiring run to gold.
