Shoreham archer strikes gold with medal hat-trick

Bryony Pitman, 25 from Shoreham, secured podium finishes across three events over the weekend, winning in the recurve women’s individual competition at the Antalya Hyundai World Cup.

Along with her fellow athletes, she also took gold in the recurve women’s team final, and silver in the recurve mixed team competition.

Reflecting on her medal success, Bryony said that she felt “on top of the world”.

Byrony with her three medals from the competition: credit - Archery GB

She said: “One medal would have been cool but three is just crazy.

“I just wanted to go out there, have fun and get on three podiums. I’ve never been so full of adrenaline and it was the biggest test of my mental process.

“Most of the time it worked but I’ve definitely got some more to learn.

“I’ve been working hard over the winter with my coach on a slightly different technique and since finishing university in February I’ve had more time to focus on archery.

“I got some early competition practice in as well while I was in Australia in March and the last few weeks I’ve been working on a new mindset.

“Things are starting to fall into place.”

The women's recurve team, including Byrony, took gold at the World Cup - credit: World Archery

The women’s success helped put Great Britain top of the medal table in the competition.

Bryony’s individual gold, as well as gold for 21-year-old Ella Gibson in the compound women’s individual competition, are the first individual medals for Great Britain in a decade.

Archery GB performance director Tom Duggan said: “It has been a fantastic week for the athletes.

“To convert three out of four of the medals to gold and not settle for silver is a great platform for the future.

“Ella and Bryony’s individual medals were so well deserved and, for the first time, we’ve individually medalled at a World Cup since 2012.

“Bryony’s talent is clear and for her to win three medals will give her a lot of belief for the season.”