2024 Olympian Catalina Gnoriega (San Diego, Calif.) is having a breakout 2025 season for USA Archery, winning a trio of medals with her team on the World Cup Stage.

The USA Archery Foundation caught up with her to find out how she got involved in Archery, as well as touch base on her breakout year and thoughts on potentially competing at an Olympic Games in her backyard.

What do you think is the cause of your breakout year?

It has been a great year. I started off really well with Indoor Nationals, winning the final there. Then Gator Cup, also winning that. We just had SoCal and World Championship Trials recently, and I made that team. It feels really good, to seeing little more hard work pay off. I think a big part of that is the change I made last fall, which was my first semester of college. I think that has really helped me find more balance with my life and reconnect with why I want to do archery and why I am doing this. I have been able to enjoy it a little more. I think that has really helped me. Also, training at Texas A&M is training with a lot of awesome teammates, and we really push each other. It has just been great!

How important is donor programs like Team28 to you and your teammates?

I mean it is huge. To some extent, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without their support. Just anyone that supports us is huge. It means a lot, to have all these people and different organizations behind us.

What is the biggest struggle to reach your goals?

I feel like it can be different for everyone. A lot of times, I think it is the mental game. That is a huge part of archery, and it is the hardest part to train and practice. You see people who can shoot well in practice, but struggle in competition. I have been there but think everyone has been there. I think that is the biggest struggle in our sport.

At events, you have a coach up on the stage with you, but at the end of the day, it is just you, by yourself shooting the bow. You are the one that has to commit to the shot and make the shot. It is all on you. I think that the hardest thing to conquer to get really good.

What is your most proud moment so far in your career?

That is tough! I could say making the Olympic Team, but honestly, I feel my proudest moment is making the Youth Olympic Team. I was new, I had only been shooting for about 3 years. It just felt like my first real success. It was just awesome. I don’t know if it is the way I think about it, but I don’t know if anything can top that feeling like I won something for the first time. Thinking back at it makes me happy and gives me chills. It just meant a lot. Of course, I have a lot of things I am proud of, but I think it always goes back to that first win for me.

What made you stick around for 2028?

I think I’m not done. I really want to win an Olympic medal. Maybe that could top the Youth Olympics. Also, just in general, I love the sport, and I want to do more in it, not just at the Olympics, but at World Cups and World Championships, I want to win there. I want to try to reach my highest potential.

Do you think about the 2028 Olympics?

Yes, it is really cool that it is so close to my home of San Diego. My whole family could go watch because it is just a drive for them. It feels like it is at home. I loved the experience of Paris, and that was a great first Olympic experience. For the second Olympics, a home Olympic Games is so special. I got to experience them in another country and hopefully get to experience it with a home crowd!

What would you tell others looking to join the sport?

I would just say try it, give it a shot. If you are going to do it, commit and train every day, put in the work. It will be worth it. Also, believe in yourself. That is something I wish I had believed in myself more when I first started out.

On Target with Catalina Gnoriega