Ella Gibson put her season’s individual woes behind her as she won the compound women’s event at Madrid 2025, the fourth Hyundai Archery World Cup.
The Brit pipped India’s Jyothi Surekha Vennam to the top podium 148-147, dropping three perfect scores and expertly kept hold of her lead right up until the last end when Asian Games victor Jyothi scored her second 30 of the match. But by then it was all too late.
A gold in Spain marks the end of a barren spell individually for the European champion Gibson as she had only a bronze from The Vegas Shoot in 2025 before Saturday, and failed to get into any of the final fours in Central Florida, Shanghai and Antalya – the previous World Cup stages.
A disappointing return for her high standards.
“In 2022, I won pretty much every event I went to, and obviously it’s always amazing to win, but I think when you really do put your blood, sweat and a lot of tears in it, it means that much more,” said Gibson who defeated another Indian Parneet Kaur in the semifinal [146-143]. “When you’re there and you’re dealing with doubts or not as much confidence, but you manage to put it aside and bring out a win, it’s incredible.”
“I found in matches that at times I was probably overthinking it and allowing myself to get buffeted more by the wind, trying to aim off in that perfect spot, shoot it perfectly and make sure I didn’t shoot a 9.”
“Today I decided that I wasn’t going to be cautious or careful with it. If I was starting, even if the wind would move me, I was going to pick a shot, pick a spot, commit to it, and if it was the wrong shot and the wrong decision, then that’s life.”
Gibson, 25, was always going to the World Cup Final – held in Nanjing in October – win or lose this week due to her world ranking position at two.
Much was talked about before Madrid who would end the World Cup circuit as compound women’s number one, Gibson or Andrea Becerra.
