Oznur Cure Girdi: A Rising Star in Para Archery Triumphs at Paris 2024

At just 26 years old, Turkish archer Oznur Cure Girdi has emerged as a new star in para archery, making her mark at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Her journey to the top was nothing short of extraordinary, as she shattered the compound women's world record in the ranking round, scoring over 700 points, and maintained her exceptional form throughout the elimination rounds.

Oznur's moment of glory came when she claimed her first Paralympic gold, defeating Iran's Fatemeh Hemmati in a closely contested final with a score of 144-141.

The final match was a thrilling display of skill and composure. The two archers were tied after the first end, but as the match progressed, Cure Girdi's precision with her shots began to shine. She consistently hit 10s and nines, gradually building a 2-point lead. By the final end, she had a 3-point advantage, and she didn't let the gold medal slip away.

Her dominance in each match confirmed her status as the top contender—she seemed unstoppable. And indeed, she was.



“I believed in the medal already after the ranking round and my world record,” Oznur said, reflecting on her incredible journey.

As the final arrow hit its mark, Cure Girdi couldn't hold back her emotions. She burst into tears, overwhelmed by her achievement.

“I believed I would reach it! And now it's around my neck! I'm so happy. I worked really hard for this. It's great!” she exclaimed.

Oznur's celebration was raw and emotional, a testament to the immense effort she had put in. Yet, she remained composed when it mattered most.

“Actually, we worked very hard on this, too,” she added. “We've got a huge team, and we practice a lot with our psychologist. During the preparation period, we did numerous exercises to help me control my nerves. It really paid off during the competition,” she explained.

“I tried all those techniques, feeling the pressure during training, so it was easier to manage it during the actual competition. I'm happy I could handle the pressure.”

The silver medal went to Iran's Fatemeh Hemmati, who had earlier defeated the defending champion, Phoebe Paterson Pine, in the semifinal. Unfortunately, Paterson Pine missed out on a medal after losing a heart-stopping bronze medal match to her British teammate, Jodie Grinham.

Grinham's incredible journey to her first individual Paralympic medal was all the more remarkable as she competed while 6.5 months pregnant. In the bronze medal match, Paterson Pine took the lead in the third end, but Grinham remained focused.

“I knew going into that last end that I needed to produce good shots. I needed 10s. And, thankfully, that's exactly what I did,” Grinham said.

Her determination paid off as she shot two 10s to secure the bronze medal. Reflecting on her victory, she said, “Especially with archery, you have to shoot the last arrow. The match is not over until the last arrow.”

Grinham's triumph was bittersweet, as she had to overcome her own teammate to achieve her goal. “I put the pressure on Phoebe, which is heartbreaking—she’s my teammate—but it worked in my favor. And that meant I came away with bronze,” she added.

As she prepares to become a mother, Grinham is already looking forward to her next challenge, declaring her intent to compete at the next Paralympics in Los Angeles, USA.

The Paris Paralympic competition continues with the W1 and compound men's elimination and medal matches on Sunday.