The South Korean women’s archery team won its ninth straight Olympic gold medal on day two of the Tokyo Olympics, defeating the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) 6-0. First-time Olympians An San, Jang Min-Hee, and Kang Chae-Young kept the gold medal streak alive for South Korea.
An shot a perfect 10 on her sixth and final arrow of the opening set to defeat Russian archer Svetlana Gomboeva 55-54 and earn the first two points for South Korea. Jang tallied the highest individual score (56) to claim the second set against Elena Osipova. Kang shut the door in the third set, shooting for a total of 54 to overtake Ksenia Perova and claim the gold medal.
(L-R) Silver medallists Russia’s Svetlana Gomboeva, Elena Osipova and Ksenia Perova, gold medallists South Korea’s An San, Jang Min-hee and Kang Chae-young, and bronze medallists Germany’s Michelle Kroppen, Charline Schwarz and Lisa Unruh stand on the podium during the women’s team victory ceremony during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yumenoshima Park Archery Field in Tokyo on July 25, 2021. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP) (Photo by ADEK BERRY/AFP via Getty Images)
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The South Korean women’s archery team is now tied for the longest active gold medal streak in any Olympic event. It matches streaks by the United States in the men’s 4x100m medley in swimming and Kenya’s streak in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Both the U.S. and Kenya will have the opportunity to extend their streaks to 10 at the Tokyo Olympics.
South Korea is undefeated in the women’s team event, which debuted in 1988. An, Jang, and Kang will all compete in the women’s individual event, which begins on Tuesday in Japan (Monday night in the United States). The trio enters the bracket as the top-3 ranked athletes. Should they all win a medal, it will be the third time South Korea sweeps the event.
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