Gazoz shuts out Nespoli 6-0 to take Madrid World Cup gold

It was a rematch plenty of people wanted. Gazoz and Nespoli last met on the biggest stage at Tokyo 2020, where the Turkish archer won 6-4 for Olympic gold. Madrid swung the same way. Gazoz opened with ends of 29 and 30, grabbed an early lead, and never let it go. Nespoli collapsed in the third end — a 10, 8, 7 sequence — and that was effectively the match. Gazoz's final arrow caught a hard wind gust and landed for a six, but six was enough. Final score: 6-0.

Gazoz wasn't rattled by the conditions. 'Just as I was about to make the final shot, the wind hit really hard and pulled the bow to the right. It went for a six. Whatever number of points I need to hit, I'll hit that one,' he told World Archery's website. He also acknowledged the backdrop of their rivalry — Nespoli had beaten him in this year's European Outdoor Championships semifinal — making Sunday's result personal.

The win completed a tidy build through the 2026 World Cup season: bronze in Puebla, silver in Shanghai, gold in Madrid. Gazoz credited Turkish national team head coach Yusuf Göktuğ Ergin's long-game approach. Up next for Gazoz is the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, with the World Cup Final set for Saltillo, Mexico, in September — where he's hoping to see Nespoli across the line again.