Roberto Hernández of El Salvador delivered a standout performance at the Archery World Cup Grand Prix stage in Medellín, Colombia, capturing gold in the men’s individual recurve event and securing bronze in the mixed team competition alongside teammate María José Álvarez. The double podium finish marks a historic achievement for Salvadoran archery, elevating Hernández to the forefront of continental contenders ahead of the 2024 Olympic qualifiers.
The Grand Prix, held from April 22–27 at the Parque Deportivo Estadio Atanasio Girardot, drew over 150 archers from 30 nations, including Olympic medalists and World Cup regulars. Hernández, ranked 28th globally by World Archery entering the event, navigated a challenging draw that included former world champions and Olympic finalists. His path to gold began with a commanding 6–0 victory over Mexico’s Luis Álvarez in the round of 32, followed by a 6–2 win against Brazil’s Marcus D’Almeida, a two-time Olympic medalist, in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Hernández faced South Korea’s Kim Woo-jin, the reigning world champion and world record holder. After splitting the first four sets, Hernández edged Kim in a one-arrow shootoff, scoring a 10 to Kim’s 9, to advance to the final. There, he met France’s Thomas Chirault, a 2020 Olympic team medalist. Hernández opened strong with two 29-point sets, weathered a late surge from Chirault, and clinched the title with a 6–4 set-point victory (29–27, 29–28, 27–29, 28–29, 29–28).
The mixed team bronze came the following day, as Hernández and Álvarez defeated Italy’s Mauro Nespoli and Tatiana Andreoli 5–3 in the bronze medal match. The Salvadoran pair had earlier lost to South Korea in the semifinals, dropping a tight 5–4 decision after leading 4–2. Álvarez, competing in her first World Cup event of the season, contributed consistently with mid-to-high 20s scores throughout the elimination rounds.
“This means everything,” Hernández said in a post-match interview with World Archery TV. “To beat athletes like Kim and Chirault on their day, in front of a crowd that didn’t know my name a week ago — it proves we belong here. María and I fought hard for that bronze too. What we have is just the start.” His comments were echoed by Álvarez, who noted the experience gained competing against top-tier international opposition.
The result represents El Salvador’s best-ever showing at an Archery World Cup event. Previously, the nation’s highest individual finish was a ninth-place showing by Hernández at the 2022 Guatemala leg. No Salvadoran archer had ever won a medal in the mixed team category at a World Cup Grand Prix stage prior to this weekend.
World Archery’s official results confirm Hernández scored a cumulative 1362 points across the qualification and elimination rounds, averaging 9.08 per arrow — his highest career average in international competition. His final match average against Chirault was 9.16, reflecting exceptional composure under pressure. In the mixed team event, the Salvadoran pair averaged 8.92 per arrow across their five matches.
The Medellín Grand Prix served as a key preparatory event for the upcoming Olympic qualification series, with direct berths to the Paris 2024 Games still available through the World Cup final and continental championships. Hernández’s performance improves his standing in the Olympic ranking pool, where he currently sits within the top 40 eligible athletes vying for one of the remaining Americas quota spots.
Looking ahead, Hernández and Álvarez are set to compete in the next World Cup stage in Antalya, Turkey, from May 20–26. That event will offer another opportunity to earn ranking points and refine their preparations for the Pan American Games qualifiers later this summer. The Salvadoran Archery Federation has confirmed both athletes will attend a centralized training camp in Guatemala City beginning May 6, focusing on mental resilience and long-distance shooting under variable wind conditions.
For global readers, the achievement underscores the growing competitiveness of emerging archery nations in a sport traditionally dominated by South Korea, China, and European powers. Hernández’s success follows a broader trend of increased investment in Latin American archery programs, supported by World Archery’s development initiatives and regional solidarity funds.
As the Olympic qualification window narrows, Hernández’s dual-medal performance in Medellín sends a clear message: El Salvador is no longer just a participant in international archery — It’s a contender.
Stay tuned to Archysport for updates on Hernández’s journey toward Paris 2024, including live coverage of the Antalya World Cup stage and exclusive insights from the Salvadoran team’s preparation camp.
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