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Savannah O'Donohue, 17, in final four on first World Cup go at Antalya 2026

9 June 2026

Antalya, Türkiye

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Savannah O'Donohue smiling at the target after reaching the compound women final fours at Antalya 2026.

As far as World Cup debuts go, they couldn't have gone much better for one Savannah O'Donohue as, at 17 years of age, she reached the compound women final four at the first time of asking at Antalya 2026 - stage three of the Hyundai World Cup.

Dropping a 690 in Tuesday's qualifications was a fine start to the under-18 world champion's journey on archery's premier international circuit, but shooting as the 23rd seed would always guarantee stern tests against those that have a plethora of stages under their belt already.

And so O'Donohue did, against the 2023 circuit silver medallist Tanja Gellenthien - who is competing in her 10th season on the tour - whom she stunned 146-145 before then defeating the week's second seed from qualification Katharina Raab of Germany 146-144 on one of the windiest and most humid days of competition.

“It's a dream come true, honestly,” exclaimed O'Donohue, whose focus was evident after the win as she swiftly asked her coach about the next match despite it being the last before Saturday's finals. “I knew I really wanted to make it this far; however, to actually make it is incredible. Everyone who shot was amazing, everyone was great.”

“I'm just so happy that I can be here and be able to compete and represent team USA. I've trained a lot for it. I knew my parents were going to be sacrificing a lot for me so I really wanted them to be proud and to just really have fun because it's only my mom here.”

Not all of USA's compound World Cup squad are present at the Gloria Sports Arena this week, as Antalya 2026 is one of the nation's self-funded events, meaning those chosen not to travel to Türkiye, such as The Vegas Shoot runner-up Alexis Ruiz, pave opportunities for O'Donohue.

The surrounding area of Belek, around 40 kilometres east of the main city of Antalya is affluent, laden with luxury hotels and resorts along the beautiful Mediterranean coast for tourists.

The cost of competing at this level does not come cheap.

Savannah O'Donohue just after releasing a shot during a compound women match at Antalya 2026.

The chance to become one of the youngest World Cup stage winners in history, however, is priceless and O'Donohue has taken the opportunity by the scruff of the neck against the world's elite.

She goes into tomorrow's final four with nothing to lose and already an amazing amount of pride - alongside her supporting mother's - which made her voice tremble from emotion when interviewed in the morning session.

“I tell everyone that archery, anyone can shoot archery, anybody from any sort of background. It's really about, I think, how you train mentally,” responded the two-time Pan American Youth silver medallist when asked what makes her stand out from her fellow teenage peers at this level. “I know it takes a lot of mental energy to keep pushing and especially with the heat and all the conditions that we go through.”

“All the wind, you really have to just dig deep and be able to keep going. I think there's been very few [tough moments] just because of how I've been trained and how I want to be when I grow up.”

“I try to avoid it as much as possible. I always just keep telling myself it's just one more arrow. I never focus on the arrows ahead or the arrows that I've already shot. I always just keep looking forward.”

What lies between O'Donohue and the gold medal? Only the small matter of current senior world champion Andrea Maya Becerra Arizaga first and then potentially the greatest compound woman of all time, Sara Lopez - the Colombian on course for her 10th World Cup trophy.

If it is Lopez and O'Donohue that make it to the gold medal match, it would present a match-up hardly anyone at the tournament would have wholeheartedly predicted, and one of the most unique, where a youth prodigy faces the ultimate legend of the discipline - a true clash of the future and present.

Not tantalising enough?

The qualification action has now concluded, but archery stays here at the Gloria Sports Arena for this weekend's finals, which begin tomorrow morning with the compound team gold medal matches.