Whatever the result on Wednesday, there is a sense that a door has been opened.
This year has already brought USA medals at junior level in Winnipeg, at the World University Games and at the Junior Pan American Games.
There was the moment when the USA women beat Korea at the Hyundai Archery World Cup stage in Antalya – at the 20th attempt – and went on to gold. Also silver in Central Florida. Then mixed team gold in Madrid, again beating Korea. All building on strong results in Paris.
“I think we are working in a good way and the results are starting to speak for themselves,” said Cuesta. “The women’s team went seven years without a medal, and they’ve taken three this year. But of course one of the most important things is also to convince people that they can do it.”
The USA men’s team against Korea carries serious Olympic resonance, dating back to Atlanta 1996, when the USA won the last American archery gold medal at a Games.
They won again against Korea in the London 2012 semifinal, on their way to silver. The same matchup produced perhaps the greatest recurve men’s final of all in Rio 2016 – although Korea took gold that time.
“Of course, the goal here is to win the world championship, like in every tournament,” said Cuesta. “But the best goal for us is to try to control what we can control. If we do that, we have more chance to win.”
The USA remains the second-most decorated Olympic archery nation behind Korea, and was the dominant force internationally in the 1970s and 1980s, an era that arguably ended with Justin Huish‘s remarkable double gold in Atlanta.
With LA28 approaching, can the USA dominate again as it did in the days of Darrell Pace and Rick McKinney?
“Really, one of the reasons I’m here in the United States is that I want to be the best coach in the world,” declared Cuesta. “If I’m to be the best coach, I want as many medals as I can. Right now Korea is dominating, and we need to beat them.”
“In my opinion, the only country that has everything to beat them is the USA. This is why I’m here – and I think between the athletes, USA Archery, the other coaches and me, it’s the best combination to do it again.”
