Months of Korean trials for the 2024 Olympic Games finished today in Yecheon with the announcement of the six archers who will represent archery’s leading nation this summer in Paris.
The recurve men’s line-up is predictable – Kim Woojin, Kim Je Deok and Lee Wooseok – but the women are a shock.
With an unprecedented 10th consecutive Olympic team title on the line and a deep pool of proven international athletes to draw from, Korea is sending an almost entirely inexperienced line-up to the Games.
Lim Sihyeon, last year’s breakout star, returns only to lead rookies Jeon Hunyoung and Nam Suhyeon.
“I’m so grateful to be selected as a member of the team this year. After last year’s results, I will do my best. This is my first time going to the Olympics and I will prepare as much as I prepared for the Asian Games,” said Lim.
“This is a place where everyone wants to be, so I will do my best with the responsibility.”
Over months of selection competitions, resident training with the national eight-archer squads and these final two trials, held in Cheongju and Gwangju in April, three women with no previous Olympic appearances, one combined world championship cap (Lim’s) and who have never shot together as a team are confirmed for Paris.
Korea is famous for its ruthless selection process. It’s a pure meritocracy. Athletes shoot 1000s of arrows and the best performers, whoever they are, are trusted to deliver results.
