PARIS — Casey Kaufhold, the world’s No. 1 archer, was knocked out in a shocking round-of-32 upset by Lei Chien-ying of Chinese Taipei on Thursday, as American women will stay off the Olympics podium for at least another four years.
Kaufhold’s 7-3 loss to the world No. 36 ended hopes for a U.S. woman to medal in this event for the first time since 1976 when the late Luann Ryon took gold in Montreal.
The other two American women in this competition, Boston’s Jennifer Mucino and San Diego’s Catalina GNoriega, have also been eliminated. Mucino lost in the round of 64 and GNoriega bowed out in the same round as Kaufhold.
The 20-year-old archer from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, fought back tears and thanked all her family and friends for their ongoing support.
“Definitely not what I was expecting,” Kaufhold told NBC Sports at archery venue Les Invalides, a famed Parisian garden and monument just a few arrow shots away from Napolean’s tomb. “But I want to congratulate my opponent.”
Kaufhold praised Lei, a bronze medalist from Rio and the 2019 world champion.
“Anybody can shoot well at any time but she’s (Lei) amazing,” said Kaufhold. “She’s a previous world champion … and she was just a little bit better than I was today and that’s OK.”
The world No. 1 said she wasn’t in top form on Thursday.
“I’ve been shaking a lot today, which is hard to aim steady right when you’re shaking so bad. Looking forward I’m just going to minimize that,” said Kaufhold, who is still in mixed competition.
“When you’re up there anything can happen, and so, for me, it’s either I think nervous thoughts or I shake nervously. Today that’s just what came out.”
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