Published on 15 Aug 2008
50m Rifle Prone Final – AYVAZIAN’s dream, the EMMONS’ team, and a matured POTENT on the podium
Marco Dalla Dea
Artur AYVAZIAN of Ukraine, 35, won the 50m Rifle Prone Olympic Final <em>“I dedicate this medal to my coach, who left us in 2002”</em> Silver went to the 2004 Olympic Champion Matthew EMMONS (USA), 27, <em>“Our family is the best team: we already have three 2008 Olympic medals, together with my wife Katerina!”</em> Bronze to the 45-year old POTENT of Australia, who said about his career <em>“I am like good wine, I am maturing with age”</em>
“I felt this was going to be my day. Yesterday I said to myself ‘I will win’, and nobody stopped me, also because this medal has a special meanning” Said the winner of of today’s 50m Rifle Prone Men event, Artur AYVAZIAN of Ukraine, 35, after the final round.
“It is the greatest success I have ever had - continued the Ukrainian shooter - but I am not surprised because I have participated in the Olympics three times and I have done a lot preparation work.”. AIVAZIAN entered the final round in first place with the highest qualification score of 599 points, with two points of advantage on the following EMMONS, the title defender from the USA. Then he shot 103.7 points, securing the Olympic Gold medal with a total of 702.7 points “It is harder to maintain the first place in the final, when you enter in first, but I made it - commented AYVAZIAN – Today id my day. And I want to dedicate this medal to my coach, who left us in 2002. We used to dream about this, and now that dream comes true.”
Matthew EMMONS, the 27-year old Olympic Champion of Athens, started the round two points behind AYVAZIAN, and the 104.7 points he scored throughout the final round were not enough to conquest the lead. EMMONS eventually placed in second winning Silver with a total of 701.7 points “It’s the best match of my life. Is the best I can shoot. It’s very hard to walk into a final two points behind, specially in Prone event and in an indoor range.” commented EMMONS about his performance “The wind in the qualification range has been extremely tough. It just swirled around. It was definitely challenging, but those conditions really show off the best”
EMMONS was followed during the competition by his wife Katerina, the first Gold medallist of the 2008 Olympic Games of Beijing. “Her success gives me good energy and great motivation. I want to do well too. We work as a team, the more medals we win as a team, the better.”
Bronze went to the world’s number one in Prone Event Warren POTENT of Australia, who fired today’s highest final score of 105.5 points, meaning an impressive average of 10.55 points per shot.
The Australian phenomenon, a 45-year old engineer of Sydney, had started with a weak qualification score of 595 points, so that it was difficult to preview such a remount in the final. “The qualification was a bit off for me, but I hit my final shots and I am very happy with the result!”
POTENT, at his third Olympic Games, had placed 42nd in Athens, and has won his first international medal in 2007 (when he qualified for Beijing) “What should I say. I am still getting to my prime. I’m just maturing with the age, like good wine!”
“It is the greatest success I have ever had - continued the Ukrainian shooter - but I am not surprised because I have participated in the Olympics three times and I have done a lot preparation work.”. AIVAZIAN entered the final round in first place with the highest qualification score of 599 points, with two points of advantage on the following EMMONS, the title defender from the USA. Then he shot 103.7 points, securing the Olympic Gold medal with a total of 702.7 points “It is harder to maintain the first place in the final, when you enter in first, but I made it - commented AYVAZIAN – Today id my day. And I want to dedicate this medal to my coach, who left us in 2002. We used to dream about this, and now that dream comes true.”
Matthew EMMONS, the 27-year old Olympic Champion of Athens, started the round two points behind AYVAZIAN, and the 104.7 points he scored throughout the final round were not enough to conquest the lead. EMMONS eventually placed in second winning Silver with a total of 701.7 points “It’s the best match of my life. Is the best I can shoot. It’s very hard to walk into a final two points behind, specially in Prone event and in an indoor range.” commented EMMONS about his performance “The wind in the qualification range has been extremely tough. It just swirled around. It was definitely challenging, but those conditions really show off the best”
EMMONS was followed during the competition by his wife Katerina, the first Gold medallist of the 2008 Olympic Games of Beijing. “Her success gives me good energy and great motivation. I want to do well too. We work as a team, the more medals we win as a team, the better.”
Bronze went to the world’s number one in Prone Event Warren POTENT of Australia, who fired today’s highest final score of 105.5 points, meaning an impressive average of 10.55 points per shot.
The Australian phenomenon, a 45-year old engineer of Sydney, had started with a weak qualification score of 595 points, so that it was difficult to preview such a remount in the final. “The qualification was a bit off for me, but I hit my final shots and I am very happy with the result!”
POTENT, at his third Olympic Games, had placed 42nd in Athens, and has won his first international medal in 2007 (when he qualified for Beijing) “What should I say. I am still getting to my prime. I’m just maturing with the age, like good wine!”