Published on 01 Nov 2009

Skeet Women – Wenzel shot-off the snow

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M. Dalla Dea

In spite of the severe snowfall that affected today’s qualifications, Germany’s Christine Wenzel (Christine Brinker before her marriage) won the Skeet Women Final shooting-off Italy’s Spada to secure the Gold medal.

Christine Wenzel of Germany claimed Gold at the Skeet Women Final by outdoing Italy’s Katiuscia Spada in a shoot-off that took place in the snow. Beijing was covered by 30 centemeters of fresh snow overnight, and an intense snowfall disturbed today’s qualification.

The German athlete climbed all the way to the highest step of the podium starting form the fourth place after the qualification. The snowfall and the severe weather conditions did not seem to impress her much, as she shot the highest final score of 21 hits out of 25 targets, tying the qualification’s leader, Italy’s Spada, at the last satiation.


Wenzel, the reigning World Champion, did not miss the chance to finish upon the last podium of the season. Italy’s Spada walked in the shoot-off in first, missing both the targets. Wenzel regrouped for a moment, and then called her shoot-off targets. Shooting calmly, she hit just the low-house clay, ignoring the second bird. “I completely forgot it! – She exclaimed right after the shoot-off – I saw Spada had missed both, so I decided to concentrate only on one target. That was enough to win. As I hit the low-hose clay I though: I won! And I completely forgot the other one. I am so happy!”


Wenzel, 28-year old, an Olympic Bronze medallist of Beijing, had won the 2008 ISSF World Championship in Maribor, last July, and topped the season by winning today’s Gold with a total score of 90+1 hits. “This is a beautiful day! – said Wenzel – Actually, this has been a great year. I just got married with Tino, and I am really satisfied of my sport results.”


While Italy’s Spada placed in second winning Silver with 90+0 hits, the Russian shooter Svetlana Demina secured Secured Bronze with 89+1 hits after outdoing USA’s Caitlin Connor in shoot-off.