Johnson, U.S. archery team fail to medal

By ANN GREEN

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - The U.S. men's archery team, including four-time Olympian Butch Johnson of Woodstock, Conn., just missed out on a medal Saturday, losing to Ukraine 237-235 in the bronze-medal match at Panathinaiko Stadium.

Ukraine's Viktor Ruban had the final shot of the match, needing at least a nine to win. His arrow struck inside the 10-ring, and his country claimed its first men's Olympic archery medal.

``We tried, but what can you do?'' said Johnson, 48, whose teammates included Vic Wunderle and John Magera.

Johnson, the oldest male archer in the Athens games, won team gold in the 1996 Olympics and team bronze in 2000.

Since the men's team competition was introduced in the games in 1988, the U.S. has missed out on a medal just twice.

Last week, Johnson's quest for a medal in the individual competition ran into fickle winds bouncing around the old stadium. Seeded No. 16, Johnson was upset by 49th-seed Ron van der Hoff of The Netherlands in the round of 32.

Johnson has been competing at one of the most revered sites in modern Greece. Panathinaiko Stadium, with its marble seats, was the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. There was an ancient stadium at the site from 329 B.C.

In addition to being the archery venue, Panathinaiko will be the finishing point for the women's marathon Sunday night and the men's marathon next Sunday.