SIX-TIME OLYMPIAN FEHAID ALDEEHANI OVERCAME CHALLENGING WEATHER CONDITIONS TO WIN RIO 2016 GOLD IN THE MEN’S DOUBLE TRAP ON 10 AUGUST.
The 49-year-old, who is competing at Rio 2016 as an Independent Olympic Athlete, defied the Rio wind and rain to see off Marco Innocenti of Italy in the duel for gold, nailing 26 targets out of 30 to the Italian’s 24. In the all-British shoot-off for bronze, Steven Scott defeated Tim Kneale with a perfect score of 30.
Innocenti missed two clays early on and was never able to make up the deficit, allowing Aldeehani, who collected double trap bronze at Sydney 2000 and trap bronze at London 2012, to win gold.
“To finally win this gold medal means a lot to me, it’s very special,” said the victorious Aldeehani. “It has been a very tough day, but I was able to come through. My achievement is for myself. The message is that it’s never too late. I feel young, and I am in shape. In shooting you need experience. Experience and self-confidence overcome age.”
hough disappointed not to have topped the podium, the 37-year-old Innocenti was nevertheless thrilled with his silver: “Very proud of what I have achieved. I would prefer gold, but very proud to get a medal.
“I knew that this is probably my last Olympic participation,” added the Italian. “Therefore, there was a lot of pressure, and once I found out I was guaranteed a medal at the end of the semi-final, I release and started to cry. Finally, I made it to the podium, I have been chasing this result for 20 years.”
Bronze medallist Scott admitted to having mixed emotions after beating his compatriot to the last place on the podium: “I do feel for him. He has a very good shot. I’ll apologise to him later.”
Ranked No1 in the ISSF World Ranking, Australia’s James Willett qualified second for the six-man final round behind Germany’s Andreas Loew, but finished out of the medals in fifth after losing out in a three-way semi-final shoot-off with the British pair.
