Triple Olympic archery champion An San has missed out on a place at this summer’s Paris Games after failing to make South Korea’s team.
An became the first woman since 1904 to win three archery gold medals at a single Olympics when she triumphed in the individual, team and mixed-team events at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021.
But with her stunning success came sexist online abuse from some South Korean men about her short hair, which in turn triggered an outpouring of support from women infuriated at her treatment.
The 23-year-old was eliminated from contention for South Korea’s Paris Games team in Monday’s national trials, after failing to finish in the top 16 of the 24-woman field.
An won individual silver at last year’s Asian Games and was also part of the women’s team that won gold in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.
South Korea are the dominant force in world archery, particularly its women archers, who have won team gold at nine consecutive Olympics since the event was introduced in 1988. With new talent emerging every year, competition for places is intense.
“An San failed to make it to the national team this year because she did not make it into the top 16,” South Korean media outlet STN reported on Tuesday. “This serves as a reminder that winning a domestic competition is not necessarily easier than winning an international competition.”

British track team confident in new kit
The kit Britain’s track cyclists will use at the Paris Olympics will not be bettered by another nation, according to the man responsible for keeping them top of the medals table.
British Cycling’s attention to detail, as well as generational talents, has been a major factor in the nation topping the cycling medals table at the past four Games.
While the technological gap has been closed, performance director Stephen Park says Britain’s bike and race suits will be the envy of most of their competitors.
“We’ll still make sure we’ve got rounder wheels than everyone else,” Park joked, stealing a line once used by his predecessor Dave Brailsford at the London 2012 Olympics.
“We’ll also have slippier frames than everyone else, and hopefully better apparel than everyone else.
“I am confident that, when we go to Paris, no other team will have an equipment and an apparel set-up that will be better than the one that we will be able to provide our riders to give them the best opportunity to deliver their best on the day.”
The British track bike for Paris, the updated Hope-Lotus HBT, was given a brief outing at last year’s world championships in Glasgow. But Park said it will not be seen again until Paris.