CHATEAUROUX (FRANCE), Aug 2: Chiara Leone has earned Switzerland’s first gold medal at the Paris Olympics, winning women’s 50-meter rifle three positions shooting on Friday.
Leone narrowly edged Sagen Maddalena of the United States by 1.4 points in the final. China’s Zhang Qiongyue was third for bronze in the event that involved shooting while kneeling, prone and standing.
“I knew I could win,” Leone said. “I wanted a medal. I wanted a piece of the Eiffel Tower in my hands, and winning is just — I can’t describe how I feel.”
Maddalena’s silver is the first US shooting medal on the seventh day of competition, ending what was tied with 1988 for the country’s longest drought in the sport at a single Olympics.
“I made a couple of mistakes,” said Maddalena, who set a qualifying round Olympic record on Thursday. “We are all amazing shooters, but it is the pressure in finals that makes it hard to get the mind right. I’m going to take this, learn from it, keep working on my headspace and enjoy the ride.”
Leone, 26, shot a 464.4 to break the Olympic record of 463.9 set by fellow Swiss shooter Nina Christen at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
She said she was also inspired by countrywoman Audrey Gogniat winning bronze in women’s 10-meter air rifle earlier in the week. Now, they can celebrate together.
“We will have a big party,” Leone said. “I don’t know when or where, but we will celebrate.” (AP)
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