RIO DE JANIERO: As soon as the final arrow struck the board, Ku Bonchan pumped his fist, doubled over and came up looking to the sky.
The Korean then gave his chest a double tap knowing the gold was officially his after a 7-3 defeat of Frenchman Jean-Charles Valladont in the men’s individual archery on Friday.
Ku had to outlast American Brady Ellison in a shootout in the semi-final just to advance, but then rolled through Valladont with all 10s and nines — except for the final eight that clinched the gold.
Valladont defeated Netherlands’ Sjef van den Berg 7-3 to reach the gold medal round before taking silver.
Ellison rallied from a poor final arrow in the shootout against Ku to defeat van den Berg 6-2. He had to immediately put away the disappointment of the loss because the bronze medal round began moments later. Ellison has two team silver medals, but this was his first as an individual.
