Stefan Nilsson of Sweden secured today’s Men’s Skeet Gold medal, at the 2012 ISSF World Cup in all events taking place at the London RAB Olympic venues from the 17th through the 29th of April.
The 22-year old shooter led the match from the first to the last shot, leaving few chances to his opponents to climb on top.
Entering the final in the lead with a qualification score 123 hits and one target of advantage, the young Swedish athlete shot a perfect final match, hitting all the 25 targets to climb upon the highest step of the podium with a total score of 148 hits out of 150 targets.
“It feels great to win a Gold medal at the Olympic venue;” Nilsson said.
“This will be a founding memory for me, together with the last European Championship, when I won a quota place for the Olympics.” The 22-year old finalist will indeed represent Sweden at the next Games, and took the chance of testing the venue when only 97 days are left to the opening of the 2012 Olympics.
“It’s a difficult range for Skeet. There’s a green net on the background, you can see through it and sometimes it’s not easy to see the targets against it.”
“I will compete at the next European Championship, and at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato, before the Games, to prepare myself in the best way.” Nilsson said.
The 2000 Olympic Champion, Ukraine’s Mikola Milchev did not miss the chance of pocketing a medal, here in London. The 1967’s experienced competitor made it to the final with 122 hits after the qualifications, and shot 25 clays in the final match, climbing up in second place with an overall score of 147 hits.
Behind him, two world record holders, Tore Brovold of Norway and Vincent Hancock of USA, fought to find a spot on the third step of the podium. The two top-ranked shooters finished their match tied with a total score of 146, and had to shoot-off for Bronze.
Then, shooting-off on station four, Brovold made it to the podium after 10 shoot-off targets with 146+10 hits, leaving the reigning Olympic Champion Hancock in fourth with 146+9 hits.
Italy’s Valerio Luchini finished in fifth place with 144 hits, after missing two targets in the final, while the Russian expert Valeriy Shomin closed the match in sixth and last place with 143 hits after missing four targets throughout the final.