Marie Horackova finally reaches World Cup final four at Madrid 2026

Marie Horackova ticked off one of the few remaining milestones in her career as she came from a set down to reach the recurve women’s final four at the fourth stage of the 2026 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Madrid.

Already Czechia’s only World Archery Champion and the holder of the European recurve women’s record, Horackova had remarkably never reached a Hyundai Archery World Cup semifinal despite establishing herself among the world’s leading recurve archers in recent years.

That changed on Friday.

After opening with a disappointing 24 in the first set against Essen 2024 European Champion Katharina Bauer, the 28-year-old responded superbly with ends of 29, 28 and 29 to secure a 6-2 victory.

“It’s been an amazing feeling to finally, finally get it,” said Horackova after embracing boyfriend and fellow Czech archer Adam Li and the rest of the Czechia team at Vallehermoso Stadium.

She said she was particularly pleased with how she handled the day, knowing a second-place qualification had given her a genuine opportunity to reach the semifinals but that the elimination matches would still be far from straightforward.

“I had quite difficult matches, but I’m very happy that I kept myself in the process and didn’t let the desire for the result catch me.”

Horackova added that patience had been the key throughout the day, while the lighter winds compared with previous days also made conditions more manageable.

“For the heat, we are almost used to it at this point. I don’t know what else to say. I’m just very happy.”

It is remarkable that it took Horackova 20 Hyundai Archery World Cup appearances to reach a semifinal.

Whether indoors, outdoors or in the field discipline, the two-time Olympian has consistently been among the strongest qualification performers since her breakthrough at the Hyundai World Archery Championships in Berlin in 2023.

In 2026 alone she has topped qualification at three of her five international events – Spring Arrows, the European Outdoor Championships and Veronica’s Cup – and qualified second in Madrid, just two points behind Li Jiaman.

Converting those performances into deep runs at Hyundai Archery World Cups, however, has proved more difficult.

Horackova admitted that qualifying venues often made her more nervous than finals arenas, despite the larger crowds and greater attention that come with medal matches.

“I want to prepare for Sunday because fighting here on the main field is more difficult for me than at the finals. I love shooting on the podium.”

She believes she has finally identified what had been holding her back.

“I think I was missing just one little thing to get through the eliminations and reach the semis. Maybe it was just the fear of winning.”

“So this is what kept me in the tunnel, focusing on my shooting and shooting good arrows,” she concluded.

Sunday now offers Horackova the opportunity to prove that breakthrough was only the beginning when she takes on Korea’s Oh Yejin at Complutense National Stadium.