Record-breaking start Kim Woo-jin in Rio

World number one Kim Woo-jin shot the first 700-point 70-metre round in history to kick-start the Rio Games in style.

Kim’s 700 out of a possible 720 points for the ranking round at the Rio 2016 Olympic archery competition is the first recurve score of 700 or more in history, and a world and Olympic record – the first of the Rio 2016 Games.

While delighted to have secured a new record, 24-year-old Kim was keen to retain focus on the team event, which is set to be decided on day one proper of the Games.

“It’s just the ranking round, so today’s not really big happy. Getting the world record is important but tomorrow’s matches are more important,” said Kim.

“I practised more than everyone else and I gave my best for the entire round,” he said in the mixed zone. “[Now] there is a more important match. In terms of celebrating today – I want to focus on [the next] match.”

Kim shoots with Ku Bonchan and Lee Seungyun in Korea’s top-ranked recurve men’s team on August 6. Prior to travelling to Rio, Kim had suggested he was focused on setting a new record and become the first man to break the 700-mark.

He required a near perfect finale in order to achieve his target, with 118 out of a possible 120 points demanded from this final 12 arrows.

He shot 59/60 in the penultimate end – and needed the same with his last six arrows to break the record.

His first four were perfectly drilled into the 10 and, while his penultimate arrow came up a little short in the nine, he made no mistake in slotting one final ten-pointer before smiling and uttering the words “new world record” aloud.