Gijo on IfGoGo posted about Matthew Emmons, the American sharpshooter who has now come unbelievably close to the gold medal twice. It’s almost a tragedy, but I feel sure that Emmons’ story is not over! He credits his loss in Athens with finding his wife Katerina, and I hope that this loss leads to something good for him, too. It’s sad now but Emmons’ story isn’t finished!

Gijo says:

I remembered Emmons from in Athens, and I really wanted him to win this time, because I think he deserves the gold. Emmons is one of the best rifle shooter in the worid, he won two world championship in 2002 and 2004, and took a gold in Athens. He got the first place in almost every contest he attended from 2006 to 2008, including world cup and world championships. Emmons was ready to embrace the gold medal, however, the ghosts hauled him again. His wife Katerina, who won the most eye-catching first gold of the Beijing Olympics for the Czech Republic, opened her mouth in astonishiment.

He must be very upset, but still, he walked up to the gold medalist and congratulated him. Then he walked towards the courtside, where his wife Katerina kissed him and hugged him by the head, trying to comfort him by her affectionate eyes and whisper. They held each other tightly. Tears ran off Matt’s face and Katerina wiped them away gently. Her smile was his biggest comfort. I am so touched by the love she has for him, more than the fact that Chinese had won the game. At this moment, love is more treasured than the medal. Just like Emmons said after the game, “With her by my side that’s the most important thing, whether I win or lose, she will always be there and my family will always be there supporting me.”

They met each other in 2004, in an Athens beer garden just the night he lost the gold in Athens. She tapped him on the shoulder, and told him she thought he was the best shooter in the world. He lost his gold medal, but in the end, he met the love of his life. They tied the knot in 2007.

What a great display of sportsmanship and what a love story! I agree with Gijo — Matthew Emmons might not have gotten the gold, but he won our hearts!

Via Matthew Emmons: The best is yet to come | IfGoGo.com

Vincent Hancock of the United States beat Tore Brovold of Norway in a shoot-off to claim the Men’s Skeet (Shooting) title at the Beijing Olympics. Anthony Terras of France landed a bronze.

Via Beijing 2008

Oleksandr Petriv of Ukraine clinched the Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol gold with 780.2 points. Ralf Schumann (779.5 points) and Christian Reitz (779.3 points) of Germany took the silver and bronze respectively.

Via Beijing 2008

Jin Jong-oh of South Korea (Republic of Korea) won gold in Men’s 50m Pistol with 660.4 points. Kim Jong-su of DPRK (North Korea) took silver, Tan Zongliang of China got bronze.

Via Beijing 2008

Satu Makela-Nummela of Finland shot a gold Beijing Olympic medal in the Women’s Trap Final event at Beijing Shooting Range Hall on 11th August 2008 with 91 hits. Zuzana Stefecekova of Slovakia won silver with 89 hits, Corey Cogdell of the United States had bronze.

Via Beijing 2008

Abhinav Bindra of India won gold in Men’s 10m Air Rifle with 700.5 that edged China’s Zhu Qinan of 699.7 points. Henri Hakkinen of Finland finished third with 699.4.

Via Beijing 2008

David Kostelecky of the Czech Republic clinched gold in Men’s Trap (Shooting). Giovanni Pellielo of Italy with a silver and Alexey Alipov of Russia landed a bronze.

Via Beijing 2008

The Women’s 10m Air Pistol was held at Beijing Shooting Range Hall on 10th August 2008. Guo Wenjun of China shot gold and set a new Olympic record with 492.3 points. Natalia Paderina of Russia was second with 489.1 points and Nino Salukvadze of Georgia took bronze with 487.4 points.

Via Beijing 2008

Pang Wei of China bagged gold in Men’s 10m Air Pistol event at Beijing Shooting Range Hall. Jin Jong Oh of South Korea was second and Kim Jong Su of North Korea followed third.

Via Beijing 2008

Katerina Emmons of the Czech Republic won the first Beijing Olympics gold in Women’s 10m Air Rifle with a record-breaking score of 503.5. Russia’s Lioubov Galkina grabbed silver with Croatia’s Snjezana Pejcic came in third.

Via Beijing 2008