Published on 14 Apr 2015
Today's youngest finalist, Quiquampoix of France, won the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men competition at the ISSF World Cup in Changwon (KOR) securing a qualification spot for Rio 2016.
The 2014 junior world champion Jean Quiquampoix of France (19), at his senior debut here in Changwon, won today's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men setting a new junior final world record of 29 hits (junior records can be achieved also by athletes in the junior age-class competing in senior events).
Quiquampoix beat Germany's Oliver Geis by 4 to 2 hits in the last series, as the two were tied with 25 hits after the penultimate final series.
The French athlete also claimed a Rio 2016 Olympic quota place for his country, the first one in this event for France in the lead-up to the next Games.
“I'm very happy for the quota because we have been waiting for that moment since a long time in France, it has been a long time since we had a quota in this event.” Quiquampoix said. “I am not automatically qualified for the Games though. We will have an internal selection next year, and the best will head to Rio... I hope I will be the one.”
Today's winner had never made it to a world cup final-six, before.
“It's been a year that I'm shooting among seniors, so I'm kind of used to shoot next to these guys. Even if this is my first time in a world cup final match, I was prepared for it and I won thanks to that.”
The 19-year old athlete started shooting when he was 12, and from there on he climbed up the international rankings, first becoming a junior world champion in 2014, and now beating some of the best rapid fire shooters of the world in a senior event.
“I started shooting in 2008 by chance, thanks to a friend of mine who involved me. Since then, I practice a lot because I'm determinate to win every competition.” Quiquampoix said.
“The 5-time Olympic medallist Ralf Schumann is my idol, because he won a lot of competitions with high scores and he's the reference in our discipline. I had a chance to shoot next to him in 2011, I was very young at that time. My dream is to win as many titles as he did and I'm gonna practice for that.”
“I really want to be a part of the Olympic Games because it's the ultimate achievement in our discipline, and I hope to win a medal too!” The up-and-coming shooter added.
Today's winner beat Germany's Oliver Geis (23), ranked 2nd in the world in this event, who walked into today's medal match as the only athlete already qualified for Rio 2016 among today's finalists. The German shooter claimed an Olympic Quota place at the 2014 ISSF World Championship in Granada, Spain, where he had placed in second in the senior event.
Today, he started-off the round with three great series of 4 hits, but then dropped down in the scoreboard after hitting only two targets on his fourth series. He eventually landed in second place, claiming Silver with a final score of 27 hits.
In his first world cup final-six appearance, the local athlete Song Jong Ho of South Korea (25), gained Bronze, winning the applauses of the home crowd as he secured a Rio 2016 Olympic berth.
Thanks to a great sixth series (5 hits), Song closed the match with 24 hits after chasing Quiquampoix and Geis since the first series.
The 2012 ISSF world cup champion Martin Strnad (40) from the Czech Republic, followed him placing in fourth with 17 hits, while the 2008 Olympic finalist Roman Bondaruk of Ukraine (40) took the fifth place with 13 hits.
The 2000 Olympic Champion and 2004 Olympic Bronze medallist Sergei Alifirenko of the Russian Federation (56) placed in sixth behind them, with 8 hits in the final, after scoring zero hits on his third series.
The ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Changwon (KOR) will be closed by tomorrow's 50m rifle 3 positions men final taking place at 13.30, which will be broadcasted live on www.issf-sports.org. Over 570 athletes from 68 countries competed here in Changwon from the 9th of April, trying to secure one of the 24 Rio 2016 Olympic Quota places up for grabs.