Archery Final

Another post where I wish I was writing about a gold medal instead of a silver, this one for Brady Ellison in Men’s Individual Archery. Brady has the honor of being in one of the physical Olympic scrapbooks from 2008. That year I picked an athlete or team from every sport to follow. See that newspaper cut out of his results? Dedication to crafting.

But here’s Brady today in his 5th Olympics!! He already has 4 Olympic Silver and Bronze medals, won bronze in the mixed team these games and then made it to the gold medal match against Kim Woojin.

They tied after 6 regular rounds and in one of the most amazing finale formats in sports, they go to a single arrow shoot-off. Robin Hood style of whoever gets closest to the middle wins, and I’m assuming gets a parcel of land in the English countryside to lord over. I wish they shot at the same target and could split the other person’s arrow, just like our underappreciated girl Merida from Brave.

Kim shot first and was at the edge of 10 close to 9 leaving a window but Brady landed his in 9. It was close but not enough for the gold. Kim did not let Brady leave without raising their hands together in a delightful show of sportsmanship. That had to be so exciting for both of them, a single arrow shoot-off in a gold medal final.

I also love how the coaches are such a part of the match. The South Korean coach looks like he would be amazing at telling grandchildren funny stories, but always a little bit of magic in it and the kids go “oh grandpa, there weren’t dragons when you were a kid.” The US coach seems a little more quiet, more of an uncle who always does the grilling at family functions to avoid small talk and has a lady friend named Tina who makes a great hot dish.

I hope this isn’t the last time we see Brady Ellison, he’s been such a big part of my Olympic watching journey. So I hope he also has LA2028 circled on his calendar. Archery is a sport where athletes can stay in the game longer than others so fingers crossed!

And with this Silver medal Brady Ellison now has 2 posters in a box, you go Brady Ellison. I bet he could trade one of them for some interesting and rare pins in the Village.