Rick VAN DER VEN makes shock exit from Medellin competition

The top Dutch archer, most famous for coming fourth at London 2012, crashed out of Medellin 2014 in a straight-set loss to Bernardo OLIVIERA, from Brazil.

A humble “congrats” was the first thing that came out of VAN DER VEN’s mouth after the loss. “He shot great. I shot pretty well for my level the last couple of weeks, but I was happier yesterday.”

Three little mistakes cost him the match, he said, leaking arrows into the red meant he didn’t post a set point.

OLIVIERA, ranked 117 in the world, won gold at the 2010 South American Games, and is now just 20 years of age.

“There is a wide range of people of all ages competing in archery,” he explained. “To me, that is beautiful. They all shoot the same, no matter their age.”

VAN DER VEN, now relegated to spectator since the rest of his team isn’t at the competition, reckons on a strong Korean presence at the finals. But never have truer words been spoken about archery: “every World Cup has a black horse!”

For OLIVEIRA the competition continues. He’s just preparing, one phase at a time – and his next match is against the USA’s Brady ELLISON. All eyes are on this young Brazilian moving forward.

See scores from the second stage of the 2014 Archery World Cup at Medellin 2014.