Final eight a dream come true for Soto
A spot in the last eight of the recurve men's individual competition was beyond Ricardo Soto's wildest dreams, as he broke new ground at the 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships in Berlin.
On a morning of surprises, which also saw reigning champion Kim Woojin exit the competition, the Chilean 50th seed upset second seed Dhiraj Bommadevara to book his place in Sunday’s finals and leave him just two matches away from an historic medal.
It would be Chile’s second-ever medal at a World Archery Championships, following Denisse van Lamoen’s recurve gold in 2011.
But Soto is no stranger to making waves; he was just 16 when he represented his country at the Rio 2016 Olympics, reaching the round of 16 before losing to Sjef van den Berg.
It remained the best result of Soto’s senior career until this week in Berlin, as he upset the odds to book his place in the final eight.
“I really am very excited,” he said. “This blew away all my expectations and I feel really happy.”
“This year for me has been very hard, trying to balance university and training but I have tried to do both as much as possible and work my hardest and, well, it worked out and now I will enjoy what's to come.”
“My previous best in world championships was 9th place, I got eliminated in the 1/8th rounds. I did not expect this but I did expect a good result."
“The good thing is that there was a lot of wind which allows for things to happen. I was able to adapt better to the wind than my opponent so that's what allowed me to be here.”
Soto’s first hurdle on the finals stage on Sunday will be current Olympic champion Mete Gazoz, who eased his way through the eliminations, finishing with an impressive 6-0 victory over 2021 bronze medallist Brady Ellison.
But the Chilean is not feeling the nerves ahead of his debut on a world championship finals stage as a senior.
“It will be a very interesting situation, we will have to go through it arrow by arrow and enjoy every moment,” he added. “I have only been on a finals stage like this in an under-21 championship in 2017 which was my previous international experience.”
“It will be my first time and I've got to enjoy it, not see it as a challenge.”
If Soto has any experiences to fall back on, it is the Rio Olympics that will likely serve him best to settle any nerves that may crop up as he prepares to shoot in the shadow of Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
But the now 23-year-old admits it was an opportunity that perhaps came too soon and he is now more prepared for what awaits him.
“Back then I was really young,” he reflected. “I was a teenager with a lot of talent and work ahead, and totally dedicated to the sport.
“Now I am more mature and I have the biggest obstacle which is that I am in university. Hopefully next year, if everything goes according to plan, I will do my professional internships and then I will be able to combine both better.”
Alongside world championship medals, there is also the prize of an Olympic quota place on the table for a top three finish on Sunday, and Soto is hopeful his performances will help get more people picking up a bow back home.
“Archery in Chile is growing and becoming more popular,” he said. “We still don’t have that many archers but I think it will get better, we are growing.”
“Chile has participated in archery in each of the latest Olympics but we always get the quota in the last possible continental chance, with the exception of 2012.”
“Being able to get it here would be historic.”