That week in Las Vegas turned Healey’s life upside down… for better and for worse.
Of course, it was the making of her, becoming a superstar in the sport so early and in only her fourth and fifth World Archery events – an international debut one can only dream of.
But the Central Florida gold medallist – winning the first stage of the 2025 international premier circuit which booked her place in Nanjing – has in the past admitted how much the pressure of being the world’s best from a young age has impacted her, including at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“I’ve worked a lot on myself the past year or two and I think I’m mentally stronger to be out here. [There’s been] just a lot more psych work.”
“Obviously, I was an 18 year old [in Hermosillo 2023] so I’m not going to be great with the psych side of things with archery. I’m privileged to have the people to do that.”
“I’d have a bad shot and be like, ‘I think the world’s ending,’ but now I’m like, ‘Okay, that’s fine, just move on.’”
Should she make it all the way at the Nanjing Olympic Museum on Sunday, Healey will have to get past Casey Kaufhold, and either Hsu Hsin-tzu or Li Jiaman – the defending World Cup champion – before shooting against one of Kang Chaeyoung, Zhu Jingyi, An San or Michelle Kroppen in the gold medal match.
Based upon her 2025 so far however, there is good reason to suggest that the Brit will overcome all obstacles in China.
