Photos by Joe Kusumoto/Team USA
PARIS, France – Tracy Otto will turn her attention to W1 mixed team competition after finishing eighth on her Paralympic Games debut in the individual event.
The USA archer came through her 1/8 round match in sensational fashion, defeating Liu Jing of China – the second seed in Tokyo three years ago – 118-113. She then fell at the quarterfinal stage to Chen Minyi, who went on to retain her Paralympic title.
Otto will return on Monday, pairing up with Jason Tabansky as the USA goes up against Italy in the quarterfinals of the W1 mixed team.
On another overcast morning in the French capital, Otto stepped into the Paralympic finals venue for the first time, and at her first Games. Roared on by teammates and USA fans in the crowd, Otto could not hold back the smiles as she triumphed in that first encounter.
She said, “It makes my heart so warm and so full to know that I have the support of the crowd and my team. They make me so happy and just motivate me to do better.”
When Chen Minyi was winning gold in Tokyo - exactly three years ago on Sunday - Otto was just five months into her archery journey. Three years on, and Otto was sharing the same stage as the Paralympic champion, highlighting the speed with which the 28-year-old has determined a goal and set about achieving that.
“I tried my best not to come in with any expectations,” she added. “I’m just here with the goal to enjoy my time and be present. It can be overwhelming with what we have going on but I’ve enjoyed every moment of it, just taking everything in.
“The locals are amazing, the volunteers are amazing, my team is amazing. I have no words to describe how blessed and honored I am to be here.”
Three USA archers are in action on Sunday. Jason Tabansky meets his friend and rival from Brazil, Eugenio Santana Franco in the 1/8 round of the W1 men. They have met in medal matches at the previous two Para Pan American Championships, with Tabansky triumphant on both occasions.
That is followed by a resumption of the compound men open competition, with KJ Polish and Matt Stutzman returning to the stage after their 1/16 round wins on Friday.
Polish faces Jonathan Milne (AUS), with each archer overcoming the 1/16 hurdle, something they were unable to do in Tokyo three years ago. Polish was beaten by Jere Forsberg, who will face Stutzman, while Milne came unstuck against then defending champion, Andre Shelby of the United States.
For Stutzman, his match against Forsberg is a repeat of the 2012 gold medal match. On that occasion, Stutzman was ranked one and Forsberg two, but it was the Finnish archer who took top prize 12 years ago.
Upcoming Schedule
* times in ET and subject to change
September 1:
4:08am – W1 men 1/8 round: JASON TABANSKY vs. Eugenio Santana Franco (BRA)
10:38am – Compound men open 1/8 round: KJ POLISH vs. Jonathan Milne (AUS)
11:12am – Compound men open 1/8 round: MATT STUTZMAN vs. Jere Forsberg (FIN)
September 2
3:20am – W1 mixed team quarterfinals: USA vs. Italy
September 4
3:00am – Recurve men open 1/16 round: ERIC BENNETT vs. Suresh Selvathamby (MAS)
4:59am – Recurve men open 1/16 round: JORDAN WHITE vs. Lukasz Ciszek (CZE)
You can keep up to date with all the drama and excitement from the Paralympic Games with the Paris 2024 Archery Pass. This mobile pass keeps you up to date with competition schedules, merchandise sales, gives you a chance to play USA Archery's online archery game On Target, and provides resources so anyone can connect with a local club to try archery. Don’t miss out, get your Paris 2024 Archery Pass today!
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