Sergey Kamenskiy of the Russian Federation sealed the 2016 season by winning today’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men event at the ISSF World Cup Final in Bologna, Italy.
The Russian shooter, who had lost the Olympic Gold medal at the last shot two months ago in Rio, did not miss today.
Closing the match with two 10.0s and a 9.8, he collected a total of 461.4 points, claiming the world cup title with 0.9 points of advantage on People’s Republic of China’s Hui Zicheng, second with 460.5 points.
USA’s Olympic multi-medalist – and world cup title defender - Matthew Emmons claimed the bronze medal with 447.9 points, leaving behind him Croatia’s Petar Gorsa, who closed the match in 4th with 438.2 points.
Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Niccolò Campriani of Italy, did not compete today. “I am taking some time off, after the Games,” he explained. Campriani followed the match from the spectators’ seats, shaking Kamenskiy’s hand as today’s winner stepped down the podium.
“I am so happy to win the ISSF Globe for the second time,” said the Russian shooter. He had indeed already won the world cup series in 2014.
“Today, the weather did not really help us. It was cold, windy, and also dark at a certain point of the match,” he added, after shooting the final under a heavy rain fall. “I tried my best to compensate the wind, and luckily I did it right.”
“After winning a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro, my life changed quite a lot,” continued the 28-year old Siberian athlete. “Suddenly, everybody wants a piece of me: I went through interviews, press conferences, events, and people started recognizing me… It’s all great, but I have to confess that I was happy to leave for this competition and take a break.”
“Yes, this is a great way to close the Olympic year.”