Published on 17 Aug 2008
50m Rifle Three Positions Men Final - EMMONS vs. EMMONS
Marco Dalla Dea
The American shooter Matthew EMMONS falls back into Athens nightmare. EMMONS lost Gold in today’s 50m Rifle Three Positions Men Final by scoring a last shot of 4.4 points, mirroring what had happened four years ago at the Games of Athens, where he had fired his last shot on the wrong target. Gold went to the Chinese QIU, who had never won a Gold before “I have been a little bit lucky, today” he said, winning the fifth Gold in shooting sports for China, in these Games.
Only EMMONS can beat EMMONS in the 50m Rifle Three Positions Event. It had happened four years ago at the Games, when the 27-year old American shooter cross-fired hitting the wrong target and loosing Gold. It happened again today: EMMONS, leading with more then 3 points of advantage after the ninth final shot, fired an unbelievable shot of 4.4 points on his last shot, falling out of the podium and landing in fourth place.
Nobody else could beat him, today. He had started in second, climbing up in first after that the qualifications leader DEBEVEC had fired two poor shots in seventh. EMMONS kept shooting with the highest average, building up a consistent advantage, right up to the ninth shot.
When everybody though that he was going to become the new Olympic Champion and to grab that Gold waiting for him since Athens, EMMONS pressed the trigger to early, scoring that 4.4.
“I didn’t feel my finger shaking, but I guess it was – said Emmons right after the fatal mistake – I realized it went off and I hoped it made into the black. I call it a freak of nature; If I have made it into the bull’s eye, it would have been great…”
The American shooter landed in fourth place, followed live by his wife Katerina, commenting the match for a Czech Television “To shot 4.4 in final and still finish in fourth place… that’s pretty damn good!” said EMMONS “My performance in Athens final kind of got shooting on the map. This is just another crazy thing that will bring shooting some attention.”
“What happened today I think will keep him going, keep him determined and he will be more experienced. This will keep him pointed in the right direction” commented EMMONS wife Katerina, the first medallist of the 2008 Olympic Games.
“That medal still waiting for me, I will run for the 2012 Games” announced EMMONS, who had expressed his intention to take some time off from shooting after Beijing, three days ago. “The Emmons’ team reached three medals here in China, we will be back for more!”
While EMMONS was falling into Athens nightmare, the 50m Rifle Three Positions Event Gold medal went to the Chinese shooter QIU Jian, a 33-year old athlete who had never won a Gold medal in this event before, surely not the most favourite to finish on an Olympic podium. QUI looked surprised himself about his placement “I have to admit I have been a little bit lucky!” commented QUI, who finished in first with a total score of 1272.5 (1173+99.5) points.
QUI won the fifth Gold medal for China in shooting sport in this Olympic edition, helping to better the result of four Golds reached by the Chinese team at the last Games of Athens.
EMMONS mistake also gave a spot on the podium to Rajmond DEBEVEC of Slovenia, the 2000 Olympic Champion of Sydney and probably the most successful shooter ever in this event. DEBEVEC placed in third, winning Bronze with 1271.7 (1176+95.7) points.
The Slovenian shooter had started in first place after the qualifications, with one point of advantage on EMMONS, but lost his front position by scoring two shots in seventh ring in the first three shots.
“When I won the Games of Sydney I knew I was the best shooter of the World. I went there thinking that nobody could beat me. Today has been different – commented the 45-year old DEBEVEC – I felt the pressure. I started with two sevens… Then I relaxed a little bit, I changed my positions, and I started firing good shots…” The Slovenian champion grabbed the medal by closing his round with a 10.8, an excellent shot “… the opposite of what happened in Athens, where I had lost a medal by a few tenths, firing an 8 as last shot…”
Nobody else could beat him, today. He had started in second, climbing up in first after that the qualifications leader DEBEVEC had fired two poor shots in seventh. EMMONS kept shooting with the highest average, building up a consistent advantage, right up to the ninth shot.
When everybody though that he was going to become the new Olympic Champion and to grab that Gold waiting for him since Athens, EMMONS pressed the trigger to early, scoring that 4.4.
“I didn’t feel my finger shaking, but I guess it was – said Emmons right after the fatal mistake – I realized it went off and I hoped it made into the black. I call it a freak of nature; If I have made it into the bull’s eye, it would have been great…”
The American shooter landed in fourth place, followed live by his wife Katerina, commenting the match for a Czech Television “To shot 4.4 in final and still finish in fourth place… that’s pretty damn good!” said EMMONS “My performance in Athens final kind of got shooting on the map. This is just another crazy thing that will bring shooting some attention.”
“What happened today I think will keep him going, keep him determined and he will be more experienced. This will keep him pointed in the right direction” commented EMMONS wife Katerina, the first medallist of the 2008 Olympic Games.
“That medal still waiting for me, I will run for the 2012 Games” announced EMMONS, who had expressed his intention to take some time off from shooting after Beijing, three days ago. “The Emmons’ team reached three medals here in China, we will be back for more!”
While EMMONS was falling into Athens nightmare, the 50m Rifle Three Positions Event Gold medal went to the Chinese shooter QIU Jian, a 33-year old athlete who had never won a Gold medal in this event before, surely not the most favourite to finish on an Olympic podium. QUI looked surprised himself about his placement “I have to admit I have been a little bit lucky!” commented QUI, who finished in first with a total score of 1272.5 (1173+99.5) points.
QUI won the fifth Gold medal for China in shooting sport in this Olympic edition, helping to better the result of four Golds reached by the Chinese team at the last Games of Athens.
EMMONS mistake also gave a spot on the podium to Rajmond DEBEVEC of Slovenia, the 2000 Olympic Champion of Sydney and probably the most successful shooter ever in this event. DEBEVEC placed in third, winning Bronze with 1271.7 (1176+95.7) points.
The Slovenian shooter had started in first place after the qualifications, with one point of advantage on EMMONS, but lost his front position by scoring two shots in seventh ring in the first three shots.
“When I won the Games of Sydney I knew I was the best shooter of the World. I went there thinking that nobody could beat me. Today has been different – commented the 45-year old DEBEVEC – I felt the pressure. I started with two sevens… Then I relaxed a little bit, I changed my positions, and I started firing good shots…” The Slovenian champion grabbed the medal by closing his round with a 10.8, an excellent shot “… the opposite of what happened in Athens, where I had lost a medal by a few tenths, firing an 8 as last shot…”