Since her historic achievement in Tokyo, her career has been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride, being off the frontline team as much as on it; although the gruelling Korean trials system has done the same to many previous Olympic gold medallists.
So will we see An San back out on the World Cup circuit? We will see shortly, as their final selection is about to get underway, but she is currently in fifth place on score behind fellow Tokyo alumni and 2021 world champion Jang Minhee, rookie Lee Yunji, reigning world champ and also fellow Tokyo alumni Kang Chaeyoung, and 2023 world university champion Oh Yejin.
It’s a big ask, as the Korean team builds towards their second biggest competition after the Olympics: the quadrennial 20th Asian Games, with the archery competition held in the coastal city of Okazaki, Japan. Unlike at the Olympics, at the Asian Games just two athletes of each gender contest the individual finals.
They have, however confirmed that the frontline teams will be attending the Shanghai 2026 Hyundai Archery World Cup stage 2; the traditional venue for Korean international debutants.
If An did make it to the final in Satillo in September, her chances of a third title – the number won by legend Ki Bo Bae – are at least as good as anyone else’s.
