Fremont, Ohio’s Jacob Wukie is part of a team that has qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Wukie returns to the Olympics after earning a silver medal in 2012 at London. (He is the son-in-law of Pastor Kevin and Pam Pinkerton at Grace Community Church, Fremont.) A portion of a story from usarchery.org appears below. Click here to read the complete article. Also below is a portion of a feature story about Jacob from worldarchery.sport. See Jacob Wukie’s return fuels USA’s push for full team quota.
USA Archery Qualifies Full Men’s Team For Tokyo 2020
PARIS, France – At the Final World Qualification Tournament today, USA’s Tokyo men’s slate earned their full berth of three quota spots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Led by 3x Olympic Medalist, 5x World Cup Final Champion, World Champion, World No. 1 and World Record Holder Brady Ellison, London 2012 Team Silver Medalist Jacob Wukie returns to the Games after a long international hiatus with Jack Williams, who was 9th in the world in the 2019 season in his debut Olympic performance.
The incredibly strong trio spent the last week together in France, training for the final qualification event that awards the full team quota placement for only three nations. They found their rhythm and came to play. Williams was solid and strong through qualification, while Ellison and Wukie steadily picked up steam to put the team in first headed into match play. With many powerhouse teams left to qualify, that top ranking was critical.
USA cruised through the 1/8th round against Slovenia and their quarterfinal with Spain, taking easy 6-2 victories. In the semifinals, they scored 57, 58 and 59 across three straight sets in the wind to seal the win and guarantee their spots for Tokyo. Their last three arrows each found the center of the X ring for a perfect finishing score.
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Jacob Wukie’s return fuels USA’s push for full team quota
Jacob Wukie
“To say that there is no pressure, I think it’s ignorant,” Brady Ellison said ahead of Saturday’s final qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The USA is one of 38 countries competing for three recurve men’s team spots in Paris. Ellison’s individual place is secure – ever since he was officially nominated to full the ticket that he qualified by winning the worlds – but the reigning world number one will look to upgrade to a team quota so two additional USA archers can join him in Japan.
“You have to shoot great, you have to be in the top three and there are a lot of teams, a lot of matches to get through,” Ellison said. “Everybody on the field has the mindset that it’s the last chance. At this point, you get there or you don’t. Whoever handles that attitude better, does better.”
Ellison is accompanied by youngster Jack Williams and veteran Jacob Wukie in Paris.
Thirty-five-year-old Wukie is back in the mix after a spell away from the sport. But there’s a successful history – nine years ago, in 2012, Ellison and Wukie won a team silver together at the Olympics in London.
Williams, 21, earned a spot on the team during Wukie’s absence, injecting a shot of youthful energy along with their international experience.
“Wukie and I had success, but so have Jack and I,” Ellison said. “Experience-wise, I think we have a very experienced team mentally. We just all need to come together and shoot some 10s.”
The USA recurve men’s team has won back-to-back silver medals at the Olympics. Brady’s the only returning archer from those squads. And as talented as Ellison is, the USA will need strong contributions from all three members if it wants to secure a team quota this weekend.
Wukie’s ability to regain his level from nearly a decade ago could make the difference.
“It’s exciting! It’s been a long time,” he said. “I’m back and shooting at the World Cup. I’m enjoying being here. It’s good to see everybody.”
Wukie already astonished at the Team USA Olympic trials in Salt Lake City, out-performing more recent members of the international team to win his place at this event – and potentially at the Games – alongside Brady and Jack. He credited striking a proper balance between family and work for his surprise return.
“I didn’t necessarily have a plan to come back, but I was always keeping it in mind,” he said. “Once I was able to have a better schedule to work, train and also travel, it made more sense. That’s why I decided to come back.”
The prospect of returning to the Olympics after such a long break is exciting for Wukie – and his teammates. He isn’t a newcomer, but it has been a while. Still, he knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
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