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One of the most exciting aspects of shooting sports is the diversity of events offered at the Olympic Games. In this article, I will provide a comprehensive overview of the different types of Olympic shooting events and what makes them unique.
1-Rifle Events:
The rifle event includes two subcategories: 10-meter air rifle events and 50-meter rifle three-position events. These events test the shooter's precision and control as they aim to hit targets from a distance.
I): 10 Meter Air Rifle Events:
In this event, marksmen and women use compressed air rifles to shoot at a target from a distance of 10 meters. The target is a small round circle with a bullseye in the center, that is 0.5 mm in diameter. The shooter has to fire 60 shots at the target within a time frame of 75 minutes. The top eight shooters with the highest scores then proceed to the medal round to compete for the gold, silver, and bronze medals. Along with men’s and women’s categories, the 10-meter air rifle event also features a mixed team category, consisting of one male and one female athlete. In the qualification round, each team member is given 50 minutes to fire 40 shots at the target, The top five teams then proceed to the final round, where they compete for the medals.
II): 50m Rifle 3 Positions Event:
Athletes in this event take aim at the target from three different positions - kneeling, prone, and standing. They use a small-bore rifle (0.22 Cal), a maximum weight of 8 kilograms (men) and 6 kilograms (women) is allowed. Each participant fires 40 shots in each of these positions within a time frame of 165 minutes. The target is a small round circle with a bullseye in the center, that is 10.4 mm in diameter. The shooter has to be very steady and precise while shooting from the kneeling, prone and standing positions, and also take into account the wind and the distance to the target. The top eight scorers with the highest scores then advance to the medal round to contend for the gold, silver, and bronze medals.
2-Pistol Events:
The pistol event includes subcategories such as the men's and women's 10-meter air pistol, the 25-meter rapid fire pistol for men, and the 25-meter sports pistol for women. In order to be successful in these competitions, shooters need to have quick reflexes and the ability to control the recoil of their pistols.
I): 10 Meter Air Pistol Events:
The 10-meter air pistol event is similar to the 10-meter air rifle event, but it requires the use of a compressed air pistol. The total diameter of the target is 155.5 mm, while the diameter of bullseye is 11.5 mm. The shooter has to fire 60 shots at the target within a time frame of 75 minutes. The top eight shooters with the highest scores then proceed to the medal round to compete for the gold, silver, and bronze medals. In the 10m Air Pistol event, there are categories for both men and women, as well as a mixed team category with one man and one woman. In the qualification round, each team member is given 50 minutes to fire 40 shots at the target, The top five teams then proceed to the final round, where they compete for the medals.
II): 25 Meter Rapid Fire Pistol:
This is a men's-only event where shooters have to demonstrate quick reflexes and precision by firing shots successively over short periods of eight, six, and four seconds. The target is a series of small round circles, with a bullseye in the center, that is 50 mm in diameter. The qualification round features two rounds of 30 shots each, where shooters have to hit five targets in eight seconds, six seconds, and in four seconds. Eight shooters with the best score qualify for the medal round, where they compete for the gold, silver, and bronze medals.
III): 25 Meter Sports Pistol:
This is a women's-only event. There are two rounds: a qualification round and a final match. In the qualification round, shooters have to fire 60 shots. The shots are divided into two stages, i.e., precision and rapid fire. On the precision stage, shooters have to fire six series of five shots within five minutes. While in the rapid stage, green lights are turned on for 3 seconds for each shot. And the red light is on for 7 seconds between every consecutive green. The top eight shooters from the qualification round compete in the final match. Shooters have to shoot 10 five-shot series. The final match is based on the hit-or-miss system. If a shooter shoots 10.2 or above, it is considered a hit. And, if it's 10.1 or lower, it’s a miss.
3-Shotgun Events:
The shotgun event is also a part of the Olympic shooting program, which includes subcategories such as the men's and women's skeet and the men's and women's trap. These events test the shooter's ability to hit moving targets while adjusting for factors such as wind and lead. In trap shooting, the target is launched away from the shooter, while in skeet shooting, the target is launched in a crossing pattern.
I): Skeet:
Skeet is a part of the shotgun events in the Olympic shooting program. It requires shooters to aim at an orange clay target, which is thrown into the air from two different locations, simulating the flight path of flying game. The event is held on an oval-shaped field with eight different stations, where shooters take turns to shoot at the targets. The targets are orange clay objects thrown from the high house and low house. Both male and female athletes fire at clay targets from eight different spots, each known as a ‘station’. The clay targets fly in from two spots, one on the left and another on the right end of the shooting range. These spots are each called a ‘house’. The left house is called the ‘high house’ and the targets flying in from it are known as ‘mark’. The house on the right is called ‘low house’ and the targets are called ‘pull’. Athletes take 25 shots each in five rounds over three days and the six best shooters move on to the medal round to compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals.
II): Trap:
In the Olympic shooting program, the trap event is a test of a shooter's ability to hit targets that are moving away from them. The shooters fire at clay targets thrown in front of them from five different positions. The preliminary round of the men’s and women’s event is similar to that of Skeet. The shooters have to shoot at a total of 125 targets, in five series of 25 targets each. The top six shooters then move on to the final round where they compete for the medals. In the Trap mixed team event, one male and one female competitor, every shooter takes75 shots in three rounds of 25 shots each. The top six teams then battle it out in the medal round for the gold, silver, and bronze medals.
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