-8 to the Games. Records? Just ordinary life, for the 50m Rifle Prone king

Competing in the Olympic Games since 1988, he finished twice in third, in 2000 and 2004, while he only closed in eighth during the last Olympics in Beijing. This year, it could be his last chance to finish upon the highest step of the Olympic podium and to earn the only title missing from his impressive medal collection (2 ISSF World Championships, 6 World Cup Finals, 17 World Cups Gold medals).

The numbers are on his side. Throughout the last Olympic cycle, between 2009 and 2012, Martynov participated in 12 ISSF events (World Cup Series and World Championship), and, well… he made it to 12 finals, winning 10 medals, including 7 Gold. His best results of the cycle are also quite impressive: he scored the current World Record of 600 points several times, and shot 105.6 points in his best final. But even when he scores such results, you can hear him commenting: “It’s normal. I can shoot better than this…” And – the bad news for his opponents is – he is probably right: he can shoot better, and he is willing to confirm it in London next July.

But Martynov won’t be alone at the Royal Artillery Barracks. He might be one of the best ISSF World Cup competitors, but the Games are a different story, as history has taught us. While the current Olympic Champ, the Ukraine’s Aivazian did not shoot at his best during the last period, Martynov should keep an eye on Australian star Warren Potent, the 2008 Olympic Bronze medalist who’s looking forward to finding a spot on the podium in London.

Potent won 4 ISSF World Cup Stages in the last Olympic cycle, and shot one of the best finals recorded – 105.8 points – as well as the 600-point world record.

Only two American shooters have been doing better then him, Michael McPhail – ranked third in our “Super25 Chart” – and the 2004 Olympic Champion and 2008 Olympic Silver medalist Matthew Emmons, who scored an outstanding final of 106.4 points in this Olympic cycle. Emmons will be at the Games, but he will not compete in this event, as he did not make the US team for this competition.

Attending instead of him will be, Eric Uptagrafft, who placed in sixth at the pre-Olympic test event in London last April. Next to the top-ranked champions, he could meet some other tough opponents, such as the aforementioned Campriani, or the second Italian Olympian Marco De Nicolo, a prone shooting expert ranked third in the world, who won four ISSF medals in the last Olympic cycle.

50m Rifle Prone Men

Date of the Final in London: Friday, 03.08.2012 at 12:00

Reigning Olympic Medallists

Current World Ranking Leaders

Current World Record Holder

Current Olympic Record Holder

ISSF NEWS Magazine “Super25 Chart”