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Bauer credits Unruh and coach Haidn after reaching mixed team final

5 June 2025

Antalya, Türkiye

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Katharina Bauer and Florian Unruh thumbs up at the target.

Katharina Bauer credited teammate Florian Unruh and coach Oliver Haidn after reaching the recurve mixed team gold medal match at the third stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya.

Bauer and fellow Olympian Unruh secured their place in Sunday’s final after beating Italy’s Roberta Di Francesco and Mauro Nespoli, 6-2, finishing strong with impressive 40- and 39-point ends.

The Vegas Shoot bronze medallist said her performance was due in large part to the guidance she received on the shooting line from her more experienced teammate and national coach.

“It’s always a pleasure to shoot with him and I’m really happy with today,” said Bauer, who just missed the mixed team podium at this venue during April’s Spring Arrows European Grand Prix. “I just made my shots and didn’t feel any nerves, because Flo [Florian Unruh] was really a big help for me. He always calms me down with his personality, because he seems to not be nervous at all.”

“It was the same for me today, and with Oliver [Haidn]. He always had the right words. He always tells me to prepare my shot well, that’s the key for my shot, but also like, ‘Calm down, breathe’.”

“He helps me through the shot with some keywords, as if we are training normally, and he knows exactly when to say them, so this calms me down while competing.”

It’s little wonder Haidn has such a profound effect on his archers.

The 54-year-old former German national champion has accumulated more than a decade of coaching experience at the sport’s highest level since taking over from Martin Frederick (now coach of Bangladesh) in 2011. He has since led Germany’s recurve team through four Olympic Games and seven World Championships.

Katharina Raab and Paolo Kunsch secured Germany’s first-ever World Cup medal in the compound mixed team event.

Bauer will hope his soothing words conjure their magic once again on Sunday, when she and Unruh face Korea’s formidable pairing of Kim Woojin and Lim Sihyeon – the reigning Olympic champions – in a rematch of last year’s Olympic mixed team final at Les Invalides in Paris.

Before then, Bauer will return to the shooting line for individual eliminations on Saturday – not Friday, as is typical – one of several changes being tested this week in Antalya. The recurve eliminations will run concurrently with the compound team finals, giving recurve finalists one less rest day than usual.

“For me personally, it’s good,” said Bauer on the change. “I had a good morning session today, I could sleep longer, and I was really in a good mood in the afternoon.”

Germany also impressed in the compound mixed team eliminations. Katharina Raab and Paolo Kunsch beat Estonia’s Meeri-Marita Paas and Lisell Jaatma, 162-158, in pristine but hot conditions in Türkiye.

“We shot many 11s, so that’s a plus, and we are just a great team. It’s worked,” said Raab, who help secure Germany’s first-ever World Cup medal in the compound mixed team event.

Compound finals conclude Saturday at Antalya Beach Park, with team matches in the morning and individual final fours in the afternoon. Recurve individual eliminations will also take place on the qualification field in the morning.