Shanghai, China - Team USA archers capped off an amazing week at the fourth and final stage of the 2011 Archery World Cup in Shanghai, with a standout finals performance in which U.S. archers amassed seven gold medals and one silver, in addition to the bronze medal and new world record clinched by the USA earlier in the week.
Five U.S. archers have earned coveted spots in the World Cup Final in Istanbul later this month, and in a week where several top archers gave their fans something to cheer about, new talent also emerged on the world stage, in the form of Joe Fanchin, a USA Archery Resident Athlete who calls southern California home, and who claimed the individual recurve men's gold medal after edging out Khairul Mohamad (MAS), 6-5.
"A new U.S. archer is on the rise," proclaimed World Archery Communications, in reporting that Fanchin stepped up to the plate to claim his first-ever World Cup individual gold medal, following on the heels of his individual bronze medal win last month in Ogden.
"I've been learning a lot of things, and I learned a little more about the mental side of archery," explained Fanchin when we spoke to him in Ogden last month following his first win. "It makes me realize how fun this sport is, and how well you can really do and push yourself to do better." In Shanghai, Fanchin, along with teammates Brady Ellison - the number one world ranked archer - and Jake Kaminski, continued that tradition with their team gold medal win versus Malaysia, the team that defeated the USA at the 2007 Beijing test event.
"USA shot a strong first end with three tens in a row," according to World Archery Communications, "allowing them to take the lead by two points over Malaysia. USA still led after twelve arrows even though they had been pushed close to the limit of time. Fanchin and Ellison both shot eights. On the third end, USA led with a two point advantage over Malaysia, 165 to 163. In the last six arrows, USA made a strong start with 29 points whereas Malaysia shot a seven on its third arrow. USA remained strong and won the match, 222-218."
The other recurve gold medal event of the day was the mixed team match between Ellison and Team USA's four time Olympian, Khatuna Lorig. This team, which claimed a silver medal at the first World Cup stage in Porec, was ready to compete against opponent Japan. Though USA opened with a one point lead, they were strong enough to continue their momentum, gaining a stronghold by the third end. With a seven point lead, Lorig ended the match with a nine to clinch the gold medal for the United States, making the U.S. mixed recurve team the top ranked team for the 2011 World Cup series.
The U.S. team was supported by a full coaching and team leadership staff at this event, including coaches Guy Krueger and Mel Nichols, and team leaders Cindy Bevilacqua and Julie Nichols. USA Archery thanks the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Easton Foundations for their support of the U.S. teams at this event. For scores, visit http://www.archery.org; the matches may be watched (pre-recorded) at http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/source/espn3/sport/outdoors/#type/replay/.
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