Colombia’s compound MUNOZ defers to eight-year hungry Peter ELZINGA

“I have waited eight years to win a World Cup stage…” said Peter. “To finally get it – it’s really special to me. I’ve come second a couple of times, but to win. Finally.”

Four nines over the first six arrows of the compound men’s gold medal match put Daniel MUNOZ in a hole, when ELZINGA only dropped one. It was an admirable start at Daniel’s first ever finals.

He settled down in the third end with a perfect 30, and actually scored higher over the remainder of the match – but only clawed back a single point, leaving the deficit at two when the dust settled.

“I wanted gold, but Peter is such a great archer,” MUNOZ said after the match. “It was an honour to compete with him.”

“Nerves came over me as it was a totally different experience. Last time I was shooting on my own, but today – with the crowd – I was thinking: is this real?”

It was real, and it was a performance MUNOZ can be truly proud of – he lost to an opponent anyone would be happy to keep up with – because however hungry he was, he hasn’t done his time: eight years on the World Cup circuit waiting for that opportunity… just yet.

Peter explained his approach to a match that was obvious meant a lot to him when he let out a grunt and a powerful fistpump as soon as that last arrow secured gold: “I just tried to shoot my shots in the middle, keep calm and stay strong.”

“We’re here in Medellin with no coaches, no team managers and we’re just doing our best,” ELZINGA continued: “It’s been fantastic.”

The Netherlands also won mixed team silver, compound men’s silver and compound women’s individual bronze – thanks to Inge VAN CASPEL.

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