Mariana Bernal: Waiting for the moment, rising to the top

When the dust settled in Nanjing, Mariana Bernal had beaten the world’s number one and two compound women to become the newest first-time Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion. Alongside Andrea Becerra, she had added a significant new chapter to the long history of Mexican archery.

Any sensible betting in 2025 would likely have backed Becerra to close out the season. The 25-year-old had dominated the year, winning in Central Florida, Antalya, at the Hyundai World Archery Championships and at the World Games. A World Cup Final victory seemed, if not inevitable, then extremely likely.

But her teammate Bernal had other plans – even if, before Nanjing, she had only beaten Becerra once all season. That win came at the Copa Merengue in the Dominican Republic back in June.

By her own admission, Bernal was happy simply to be in Nanjing, having qualified via the world ranking after a season with just a single podium, in Florida. Being in a World Cup Final was a dream come true.

“I had accomplished more than I could have hoped for this year, and honestly, I never pictured myself winning,” said Bernal. “I felt more focused on being there and getting through each match.”

“My main goal was to win at least one match because I know I’ve worked really hard, I’ve prepared a lot – so at least I have to win one game to make the whole trip worthwhile, right? But I never imagined what it would be like to win.”

Her approach in Nanjing had been shaped by a wider mindset.

“Don’t make things up, Mariana,” she told herself. “You’re already here. Regardless of whether you win a match or not, regardless of what you achieve, you’ve already won. You’ve already done it.”

She came in with that mentality, which took a weight off her shoulders and really helped her focus without putting pressure on herself.

She did, of course, win that first match – against India’s Madhura Dhamangaonkar – despite a nervy opening end in which she dropped three points. Next came Great Britain’s Ella Gibson, who had had a decidedly mixed outdoor season by her usually stratospheric standards.

In grim conditions, with rain whipped by the wind, Bernal opened with a clean end and held a narrow lead until the finish. It was her first meeting with the Briton, a winner in Madrid earlier in the year.

What made the difference?

“I think the most important quality is the ability to stay calm under pressure,” explained the 22-year-old archer. “In compound archery, everything is defined by the smallest details, and being able to control your mind and emotions makes the difference between a very good shot and an excellent one.”

She added that the sport requires patience and concentration, and that she loves its precision: knowing and waiting for the exact moment, not forcing anything and trusting every movement.

“In the end, it’s about trusting yourself and trusting the bow.”

The gold medal match against Becerra, with the weather finally holding off, pushed the level even higher. Both archers opened clean until Bernal dropped a point with the final arrow of the fourth end. But Becerra faltered, delivering three nines. Bernal did enough to force a shoot-off, and then found the perfect shot that secured her the title.

Bernal explained that the wind had affected many of her shots, but she focused on shooting a strong 10, aiming carefully at the X-ring and executing it successfully.

“I’m feeling really happy, very blessed that life has given me this opportunity to represent Mexico at the highest level,” said an emotional Bernal afterwards. “I’m just really happy that all the hard work I’ve put in has paid off.”

Her victory slots into a lineage of excellence in Mexican archery – a legacy sparked by the medals at London 2012 and now sustained across both recurve and compound. It was also a deeply personal triumph for Bernal, who had returned from a career-threatening injury in 2023 that once left her unable to hold a glass of water, let alone a bow.

Bernal said she attributes her achievement largely to the consistency and discipline she has developed over the years, which involves training every day not only with a technical focus but also physically, nutritionally and mentally. Above all, she added, her resilience – the ability to not give up, overcome challenges and come back stronger – has been key to her success.

“Winning made me realise that I am capable of achieving things when I believe in myself and enjoy the process. I feel more confident, more focused and eager to continue growing, to maintain this level, because ultimately that’s the key: consistency.”

“It also made me appreciate all the work behind the scenes, all the people who contribute to this process, and above all, to enjoy each step more, not just the results.”

Bernal was also a key part of the social media effort in Nanjing, bringing a noticeable freshness – and a lot of joy – to the competition.

She believes every archer has their own essence, and hers is about enjoying every moment on the field and transmitting good energy.

“I really like that people see that you can compete with passion but also with joy and authenticity.”

“I consider myself a very expressive person. I like to compete with a good vibe, to smile, and for people to see that archery can also be very dynamic and fun.”

With doors now opening and confidence flowing, Bernal is clear about what comes next.

“I’m really focused on enjoying this process, all the opportunities that are opening up because of this great achievement, and especially on being surrounded by people who encourage and help me.”

The 22-year-old expressed confidence that the best is yet to come and that she will continue to grow both on and off the field.