TOKYO — Colorado Springs’ William Shaner introduced to the United States’ 2d-day haul on the Tokyo Games on Sunday, triumphing the men’s 10-meter air rifle with an Olympic-file 251.6 points.
The 20-year-antique Shaner certified 1/3 and changed into regular withinside the finals at his first Olympics, boosted via way of means of the self assurance of triumphing a World Cup occasion in advance this year. Sheng Lihao, a 16-year-antique Chinese shooter with little global experience, took silver and teammate Yang Haoran earned bronze.
“I changed into typically feeling quite calm,” stated Shaner, who grew up in Rifle, fittingly enough. “I did my task in which I had to. I don’t recognition an excessive amount of at the outcome, I simply recognition on what I want to do and it went quite true for me.”
Shaner changed into one of the pinnacle children shooters withinside the usa and has already had a adorned profession at Kentucky, completing 2d on the NCAA person championships and triumphing crew gold in consecutive seasons. He additionally changed into a first-crew All-American and NCAA Rookie of the Year as a freshman.
Shaner located 1/3 in qualifying for the eight-guy final. His mark of 105.eight withinside the final’s first opposition level located first, and he in no way regarded back. He changed into 1.2 shy of the sector file.
Shaner, who started taking pictures at age eight and gained his first global opposition at 14, have become the 2d-youngest men’s 10-meter air rifle Olympic champion; Zhu Qinan changed into 19 whilst he gained gold throughout the 2004 Athens Games.
Another Colorado Springs resident, Lucas Kozeniesky, a contender who completed 2d in qualifying, got here in 6th at 165.
Shaner’s overall performance changed into nearly a repeat of his gold overall performance on the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Croatia ultimate month.
