Summer Olympics 2000 Records fall in women's 25-meter pistol

Basketball

Track & Field

Gymnastics

Soccer

Boxing

Results

Venues

Photos

Message Board

Friday, September 22
Records fall in women's 25-meter pistol
Associated Press

SYDNEY, Australia -- Maria Grozdeva of Bulgaria broke the Olympic record with a score of 690.3 in the women's 25-meter pistol -- but only after double-medalist Tao Luna set the Olympic qualifying mark.

Grozdeva set the mark Friday after Yang Ling of China edged Moldova's Oleg Moldovan to win the gold medal in the 10-meter running target at the Sydney Games.

Grozdeva broke the record of China's Li Duihong, who scored 687.9 at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

"I did what was supposed to be done," Grozdeva said. "I had the strongest wish to beat the Chinese girl. I got my wish, my dream title."

Tao, who also won the women's air pistol, had 590 points to lead the eight-woman final and snap Li's mark of 589.

"I was not too nervous, but I probably paid more attention on my first few shots," Tao said. "I became nervous on my last shot and I started to think too early."

Lolita Evglevskaya of Belarus took the bronze with a score of 686.

Beki Snyder of Grand Junction, Colo., finished in a ninth-place tie with 580 points, two short of the final qualifier. Janine Bowman of Woonsocket, R.I., was 24th with 574.

Yang, the World Cup winner at Milan, scored 681.1 to top Moldovan's 681.0 and win. Niu Zhiyuan, also of China, took the bronze with a score of 677.4.

"I couldn't think," Yang said. "All I wanted was to do well. Winning by one point ... I'm really excited."

Adam Saathoff of Hereford, Ariz., finished in a three-way tie for 12th with 570 points. Lance Dement of Runge, Texas, was 18th with 541.

Saathoff, 25, finished eight points up from 1996.

"I'm not disappointed by any means," he said. "I've had a good time here, and that's more important than something around your neck."

He said he expects to shoot one or two major matches a year in the future and decide later whether to try for the 2004 Olympics.

Yang and Moldovan were among five players who scored 293 points in the first day of qualifying Thursday.

"It was very difficult, but I feel very blessed to have won a medal," said Moldovan, who trailed Yang 581-580 heading into the eight-person final.

Niu was ranked 15th after the first day and shot a 292 during the fast runs to reach the final round.

ALSO SEE
Swede wins gold in 50-meter rifle prone

Britain's Faulds wins gold in shootout