The 31-year-old admitted she had set high expectations in qualification but failed to account for the conditions on the field and arriving tired after nearly two days of travel.
“I was really excited to be back, and everyone was watching me, so I let all of that get into my head and didn’t perform as I wanted.”
Despite the wind, she said she still felt capable of shooting 704 or 706, but acknowledged it was a lot to process after such a long break.
“I learned that day that I don’t have to beat myself up,” she said. “I have to talk to myself more positively. I know that I’m capable of great things – I just need to lower my expectations, do my job and enjoy competing again.”
In the end, both the semifinal against Quintero and the final against Lisell Jaatm proved classics, with Lopez surviving three shoot-offs on her way to gold.
As a return test after a long break, it was comprehensive.
The stage win qualifies her for yet another Archery World Cup Final. With nine victories, she is already the most successful winner in the event’s history.
But another final brings another milestone.
“Getting the tenth one? It’s a matter of time,” Lopez said, adding that she does not expect it to come in Saltillo, but is confident it will happen eventually.
