In a nail-biting final at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Chiara Leone stunned the audience with an Olympic record score of 464.4, securing Switzerland’s gold medal in the women’s 50-meter rifle 3 positions at the Paris Games on Friday. Having set her eyes on making it to the final eight, the 26-year-old athlete exceeded even her own ambitions.
“A medal was my goal. “I can’t describe how I feel,” Leone remarked after winning the contest, which he had entered because he wanted to hold a piece of the Eiffel Tower. Adding to the significance of the victory, the medals awarded at the Paris Olympics include a metal fragment in the shape of a hexagon from the world-renowned monument.
The top shooters were in a state of perpetual frenzy during the final. A continual struggle for first place ensued between Leone, American Sagen Maddalena, and Chinese world champion Zhang Qiongyue. With a final score of 463, Maddalena was awarded silver, and Zhang was given bronze with 452.9. Following the prone position, Maddalena was in the lead, but Zhang briefly overtook her during the standing portion.
However, Switzerland extended their winning record in this race because of Leone’s outstanding performance in the final stages, which clinched the victory.
