Now Kaufhold, Mucino and Gnoriega are guaranteed their second team medal of the 2025 World Cup season, after claiming silver in Central Florida. And a monumental effort against against Korea – serial Olympic gold medallists – suggests USA is back as a serious contender on the world stage.
“I think we’re definitely looking to better our silver from last time,” commented Gnoriega. “It’s never in the bag. We still have to go there and shoot our best, but I really think we can do it, and I’m really excited for Sunday.”
As disappointed as they were, the Korean women were gracious in defeat – as they so often are in victory.
They didn’t leave Antalya empty-handed, bouncing back to defeat Germany in straight sets in the bronze medal match.
“I felt they had improved a lot compared to when we met them last year and the year before,” said reigning Olympic Champion Lim. “We gave it everything we had, but the USA just shot better. Big congratulations to them.”
“Good luck to Team USA, I hope they take the title!”
Korea did live up to expectations in the recurve men’s team competition. Kim Woojin, Kim Je Deok and Lee Woo Seok dispatched Mexico, Italy and India en route to a second consecutive World Cup final, after also reaching the gold medal match in Shanghai.
They will face Germany, who is aiming for its first recurve men’s team World Cup gold since Lausanne 2021.
Action continues this afternoon in Antalya with compound men’s and women’s team eliminations.
