1. Savannah O’Donohue, USA
The 16-year-old Savannah O’Donohue from Louisiana was the only compound archer to go unbeaten in the competition, taking an unprecedented three medals in team, mixed team and individual at under-18 level.
It wasn’t completely out of the blue – three years ago she won two medals at the 2022 Youth & Masters Pan Am Championships, also in Canada, and took a silver medal in the same championship two years ago in El Salvador.
But it was an extraordinarily composed performance, whether ranking first, leading out her team, or winning the mixed at a canter, and her dominant final against Prithika Pradeep of India belied her years.
“I just really wanted to come here and leave it all out on the stage,” she said after that performance. “Usually it kind of sinks in when we go home, but I’m just really trying to live in the moment and treasure this.”
Not what you’d expect to hear from a 16-year-old? It seems likely we will see the ambitious O’Donohue performing at senior level for the USA soon enough.
