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Korakaki and Campriani awarded “2016 ISSF Shooter of the Year” trophy

ISSF World Cup Rifle / Pistol · Munich, GER

The two Rio 2016 Olympic Champions received the award during the ISSF World Cup in Munich, today.

The ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber and the ISSF Vice-President Gary Anderson awarded the 2016 ISSF Shooter of the Year trophies to Greece’s Anna Korakaki and Italy’s Niccolo Campriani, in Munich, today.

 

The trophy is awarded every year to the two athletes who best represented the values of the Shooting Sport in the past season, through unique performances, behavior and character. The winners were selected by a panel including members of the ISSF Athletes’ Committee, of the ISSF Coaches Advisory Board and by members of the press. The results of the vote were announced on the 17th of January, and the ceremony took place today, in occasion of the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Munich, Germany.

 

Korakaki was the first Greek athlete to win an Olympic medal in Shooting in 120 years, at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. There, she won the Olympic Bronze medal in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event, and then became the Olympic Champion in the 25m Pistol women event on August 9th.

Throughout the 2016 season, Korakaki also won medals at both the ISSF World Cup stage in Baku, and at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl. At the ISSF World Cup Final in Bologna, she sealed an exceptional year by winning the world cup title in the women’s 25m Pistol event and by securing silver at the women’s 10m Air Pistol final.

“It feels great,” Korakaki said, “I have been working for years trying to improve my shooting, and 2016 has been an amazing and extremely rewarding year. I would like to thank my family and my friends who always supported me.” 

 

Niccolò Campriani wrote a new page of the Olympic history book during the Rio 2016 Games, as he won two gold medals, finishing atop of the podium of both the men’s 10m Air Rifle and the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Position events.

 

Campriani’s victories in Rio de Janeiro added to the gold and silver medals he had won in London 2012, making of the Italian athlete the most successful Rifle shooter in the history of the Olympic Games.

 

After Rio, he donated his rifle to the Olympic museum, and announced his retirement. “Every Olympic cycle is a journey. I never competed for the medals, but to become a better man through the sport. Rio 2016 has been an incredibly intense journey, and I would like to thank all the people who stood next to me, especially my girlfriend Petra (Zublasing, ed.), they know how difficult it has been for me.”

 

“My last shot in career has been a 9.2,” he added smiling. “But even if I would like to shoot now, I actually don’t have a rifle, mine is at the Olympic museum.” he continued, joking with the audience at today’s ceremony. 

Marco Dalla Dea

 

ISSF Partners