London Olympics: U.S. archer Khatuna Lorig fails to medal

Khatuna Lorig competes against Mariana Avitia Martinez of Mexico. (Paul Gilham / Getty Images / August 2, 2012)

LONDON — First, she broke a TV camera implanted in the target with a perfect bull's-eye, the first of her lengthy career.

Then, Mexico's Mariana Avitia broke her heart.

Five-time Olympian Khatuna Lorig's bid for her first individual archery medal ended Thursday afternoon in tricky, windy conditions at Lord's Cricket Ground. After falling to eventual gold medalist Ki Bo-bae of South Korea in the semifinals, Lorig posted two "6s" in her 12 arrows to fall to Avitia, 6-2, in set points in the bronze-medal match.

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Team USA's eldest archer's disappointment was palpable.

"Unfortunately, it was a little bit more about the luck with the wind," Lorig said. "I was surprised with the 6s I shot. I can say they were good shots, maybe a little weak. But I'm not a shooter who can go out all the way to 6. You just cannot read the wind."

Lorig, who won a team bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Games with the Unified team, drew widespread attention leading up to the Games for coaching movie star Jennifer Lawrence in"The Hunger Games." She relished that experience but wants to add an individual medal to her life experiences.

At 38, the native of the Republic of Georgia, who received U.S. citizenship in 2005, vows to be in Brazil in 2016. The plan is for her son, Levani, to be competing for the U.S. men's team.

"Oh, absolutely. I'm not giving up," Lorig said. "I'm going to pray for it and coach him and we'll see what happens. I'm going to train as hard as I can, come back and try to take a medal."

kcjohnson@tribune.com

twitter.com/kcjhoop

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