Choi Hyeon-ju
South Korean archer, 2012 Olympic gold medalist in women's team.
Choi Hyeon-ju is a South Korean archer from Jeonbuk, born on 6 August 1984. She won a gold medal in the women's team event at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
At the London Games, Choi made her Olympic debut on the South Korean women's team with Ki Bo-bae and Lee Sung-jin. In the 72-arrow ranking round, which set the seedings for elimination matches, the trio finished first overall. Ki and Lee led the individual standings, but Choi, struggling with nerves, scored 651 points out of 720—twenty points behind her teammates—placing 21st.
As strong favourites for the team gold, South Korea beat Denmark and Japan to reach the final against China. Despite a slow start where Choi shot the team's highest score of eight in the first set, they recovered to win South Korea's seventh consecutive Olympic gold in the event. Choi competed with shoulder pain, which she said affected her form.
In the individual event, Choi reached the last sixteen. After tying on set points with France's Bérengère Schuh, she lost in a one-arrow shoot-off.
Quick Facts
- Header Color
- lightsteelblue
- Birth Date
- 6 August 1984
- Sport
- Archery
- Event
- Recurve
- Show Medals
- no
- Medal Templates
- Women's archery · 2012 London · Team / Competition · World Cup Final / 2012 Tokyo · Individual
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Choi Hyeon-ju was born on 6 August 1984 in Jeonbuk. She made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games as part of the South Korean women's archery team. In the 72-arrow ranking round, the trio collectively finished top of the team standings, which determined seedings for elimination rounds. Choi struggled with nerves in her first Olympic competition and concluded the round twenty points adrift of her teammates, scoring 651 points from a maximum of 720 and finishing in 21st place. South Korea were the overwhelming favourites to win the women's team event. The trio comfortably defeated Denmark and Japan to reach the final against China. After a slow start—in which Choi shot the team's highest score of eight in the first set of arrows—they recovered to win South Korea's seventh successive Olympic gold medal in the discipline. Choi's medal came despite competing with shoulder pain, which she blamed for her form. In the women's individual event, she reached the last sixteen, losing in a one-arrow shoot-off to France's Berengère Schuh after tying on set points.
Reader's Guide
Choi Hyeon-ju's Olympic achievement is notable as part of South Korea's dominant legacy in women's team archery. Her gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics contributed to South Korea's seventh successive Olympic gold in the discipline, underscoring the nation's sustained excellence. Despite struggling with nerves and shoulder pain, she helped the team overcome a slow start to defeat China in the final. Her individual performance, reaching the last sixteen and losing in a shoot-off, reflects the high level of competition. Choi's career highlights the depth of South Korean archery, where even a 21st-ranked individual in the ranking round could secure team gold. Her experience illustrates the pressure and physical challenges Olympic archers face, as well as the collaborative nature of the team event.
Did You Know?
- Choi Hyeon-ju scored 651 points out of 720 in the ranking round at the 2012 Olympics.
- She won gold in the women's team event alongside Ki Bo-bae and Lee Sung-jin.
- Choi competed with shoulder pain during the 2012 Olympics.
More in Olympic Archers 1-24
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