Paris 2024 Olympics - Archery Training - Invalides, Paris, France - July 23, 2024. South Korea's Lim Si-hyeon during training. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang PARIS - Lim Si-hyeon delivered an emphatic statement on Thursday that she is the woman to beat at the Paris Olympics as the mighty South Korean archery team warmed up for another assault on the medal podium.
The 21-year-old Lim shot a world and Olympic record 694 in Thursday's women's individual ranking round at the stunning Esplanade des Invalides venue, breaking the previous mark of 692 held by compatriot and 2020 Olympic champion Sang Chae-young. Lim leads a young Korean squad bidding for a 10th individual gold medal and 10th consecutive women's team gold. The Korean women are undefeated in the Olympic team event since it was introduced at the 1988 Games.
"They're always up there. I think the money that they put into it is unlike any other country, they have professional teams," said Team GB's Bryony Pitman, who was 41st out of the field of 64. "The last few months as well, they've had a replica Paris stage set up (at their training base just outside Seoul), they've been shooting against a robot that just puts them in the 10 all the time.
They are as prepared as you could possibly be for an Olympic game." World number one Casey Kaufhold, who was fourth on Thursday with a score of 672, is expected to be among her Lim's toughest challengers when the medal rounds start on Aug. 1.
Kaufhold is hoping to be the first American female .