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World number one Gibson hails ‘amazing’ back-to-back Paris success

19 August 2023

Paris, France

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Ella Gibson in action on her way to victory in Paris.

Ella Gibson hailed an ‘amazing’ feeling after coming through a shoot-off to win her first gold of the Hyundai Archery World Cup 2023 season in Paris.

The Brit shot a perfect 150 to defeat Jyothi Surekha Vennam in the last four before holding her nerve amid a tense ending to the compound women’s individual gold medal match against Denmark’s Tanja Gellenthien.

“It feels amazing to finally get a gold this year,” she said. “It has been such a long season and as much as I’ve made the final four at two other World Cups, it hasn’t felt like the best season with a fourth and a second [places].”

Tied at 145-145 after five ends, Gibson’s sudden death arrow landed closest to the X-ring as she booked her place at September’s Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Hermosillo in style and continued her fine record in the French capital, where she also won last year’s World Cup stage.

“When it's such high pressure like that [shoot-off], you can be really nervous, adrenaline can get to you, and you can be scared,” added the world number one.

“I felt like the universe had given me one little free pass and one extra opportunity to win gold. It kind of said, ‘you messed up Ella, but here's another opportunity. Try again’.”

Jozef Bosansky became a two-time stage winner in 2023 after he secured his first major win in Antalya back in April as he beat Mexico's Miguel Becerra in the gold medal match at the Invalides.

Jozef Bosansky won second World Cup gold of the season in Paris.

The result in the compound women's gold medal match marked a second shoot-off defeat in quick succession for Gellenthien, who had earlier missed out on bronze in similar fashion alongside Mathias Fullerton in the compound mixed team event.

The Dane had looked set for a flawless semifinal herself and though she recorded two nines in her final end, she still had enough on the board to beat Sara Lopez by three and ensure she would earn a first World Cup medal of the season.

Lopez was then beaten in a tie-break of her own in the bronze medal match, Vennam locating the X-ring under pressure to return to the individual podium for the first time since winning gold in the season opener in Antalya.

Slovakia's Bosansky also topped the podium in Antalya and repeated the feat in Paris as he defeated Becerra to land his second compound men’s individual gold of the season.

The 47-year-old is enjoying a year to savour and began his Saturday by getting past Jean Pizarro in the semifinals.

He trailed Becerra by two after as many ends but levelled after the third and led by two himself following the fourth, an advantage he maintained through the final end to wrap up a 148-146 success.

Bosansky had already sealed his place in Hermosillo by virtue of his victory in Antalya and he will now enter as the man to beat.

“I shoot because I love archery,” he said. “That’s my goal, shooting. Not winning, but the winning is a bonus. And money is another bonus. And glory is another bonus. For me, archery is one big family group.”

The bronze medal match saw Puerto Rico’s Pizarro land his second medal of the day.

Having earlier claimed silver alongside Paola Ramirez in the compound mixed team, Pizarro led from the outset against Austria’s Stefan Heincz and ultimately came out on top to claim his first individual World Cup medal of 2023.

Action in Paris continues on Sunday morning with recurve team finals.