After that, series of two shots awaited where the worst is eliminated until only the winner remains and Victor hung in all the way, advancing steadily up the list until only the medalist remained. Before the last two shots, it was 0.6 points up to China’s Lihao Sheng who had trembled twice in the previous rounds. But the Chinese held it together, taking home the gold with an Olympic record 252.2 points, 0.8 point margin to Lindgren who takes a much deserved silver medal. The bronze went to Miran Maricic from Croatia.
The last time a Swede won a medal in rifle shooting was the current sports director in shooting sports, Jonas Edman, who won gold in prone free rifle in Sydney 2000. Sweden has never won a medal in 10 m air rifle before, which is one of the rifle disciplines with the toughest competition.
Final result, 10m air rifle
1) Lihao Sheng, China 252.2 points (Olympic record), 2) Victor Lindgren 251.4, 3) Miran Maricic, Croatia 230.
