An San: Shooting with Joy
Written by the Gwangju News
After clinching three gold medals in archery at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, An San went from a relatively unknown local athlete to a national icon and household name, especially here in Gwangju.
Since her commanding victories in Tokyo, An San has continued to be a force to be reckoned with in the archery world. In the past six months, for example, she secured gold medals at the Hyundai Archery World Cup finals in both Columbia and Mexico. In addition to maintaining momentum in her archery career, as well as adapting to her newfound celebrity status, she is currently completing her university studies in the Department of Elementary Special Education at Kwangju Women’s University.
Archery in Gwangju
An San first got involved in archery when she was in elementary school in the third grade following the recommendation of a coach, and also because she said the bow just looked amazing. While undeniably possessing a large measure of natural ability, archery was not always easy for her. While speaking to the Gwangju News, she explained that one of the unexpected difficulties she faced was that at such a young age, it was difficult for her to pull the bow string because of her small physique. Rectifying this problem required developing strength through a special diet, which itself was difficult to follow. This is to say nothing of the countless hours of practice she had to hone her abilities.
While developing the skills, discipline, and physicality required to become a champion is no doubt taxing, she offered the following advice to those who would like to follow in her footsteps: “If you always train with joy and do your best, you will get good results. Go for it!”
Looking Ahead
In 2025, Gwangju will host the World Archery Championships. This will be a boon to the city in terms of garnering international attention. It will hopefully also be a vessel for encouraging further participation in the sport.
Leading up to the World Archery Championships, An San hopes that the city can open up more archery centers to encourage participation and allow people to experience the sport. Of course, this will require more manpower and equipment than is currently available.
In addition to her ongoing competitions and studying commitments, she recently joined Kwangju Bank’s archery team with the purpose of further developing regional archery and keeping world-class sports stars in the region.
Daily Life
Since her gold medal performances at the Olympics, it is no surprise that she often gets recognized while walking down the street. She said that people often cheer for her and encourage her. On her days off, she tries to get as much sleep as possible to replenish her energy and tries to relax by listening to music or just reading and, of course, spending time with her friends.
While not everyone can become an Olympic champion, hopefully An San, with the help and support of her dedicated sponsors such as Gwangju Bank, will continue to grow archery in the city and around Jeollanam-do.
Archery Centers at Kwangju Women’s University
Kwangju Women’s University (KWU) has been well known throughout the nation to produce many top Olympic archery athletes, so it is no wonder they have many archery training facilities available within the premises, two of which we will introduce below.
KWU Archery Club (실내양궁클럽)
Located in the second-floor basement of the KWU Universiade Gymnasium, this is for members of the general public who are interested in learning or practicing archery. It is operated by Gwangju Daum Sports Club. When we went there to interview the person in charge, there was a group of elementary school students who were there for their regular practice. Bows and arrows are available for borrowing, and the trainer there will help you choose a bow according to your height. The club is open to anyone above third grade in elementary school, and the practice hours are as follows:
Weekdays (Tuesday, Thursday) 10:30–12:00, 17:00–18:30, 19:00–20:30 (80,000-won membership fee/month)
Weekends (Saturday) 13:30–15:00, 15:00–16:30 (60,000-won membership fee/month)
Call them for more information: 062-652-7330
KWU Archery Center
Located on the western side of the university, the center is hard to miss thanks to the archery landmark and the wall of fame featuring famous archers from the university. This center is not open to the public, as it is used mainly for the athletes. The athletes shoot the arrows from inside the building to the target boards outside.
Photographs courtesy of Kwangju Women’s University and Kim Hillel Yunkyoung.