Three years ago in Tokyo, Natascha Hiltrop won gold, but now at the Paralympics in Paris she surprisingly missed the final in the 10m air rifle mixed competition by just 0.2 rings. In the qualification for the R3 performance class, she only scored 633.6 rings and was surprisingly eliminated in ninth place.
Hiltrop started weakly, with 104.8 rings in the first series, and initially found herself in the last third of the field. In the second series, the gold medalist from Tokyo was able to improve and achieved the second best series of the competition with 106.3 rings.
Hiltrop is out – but can still dream of a medal
Then in the third series it was only enough for 104.6 rings, the worst series for Hiltrop up to that point. With 106.6 rings, Hiltrop brought itself back within reach of the qualification places. 104.8 rings in series five and 106.5 rings in series six were only enough for the disappointing ninth place. Only the first eight participants qualify for the final.
Hiltrop has two more chances to fulfill her medal dream. She will compete in two more air rifle competitions in Paris. On Tuesday (01.09.24) she will compete in class R8 (air rifle, 50 m, three-position shooting), and on Thursday (05.09.24) in class R6 (air rifle, 50 m, prone).
“Today was not my day,” said the 32-year-old after her competition. After the first weak series, she readjusted herself “so that she had the stability.” After that, things went a little better, “but then another series came along that wasn’t so good,” said Hiltrop.
Veronika Vadovicova wins Gold
In the final, Veronika Vadovicova from Slovakia won the gold medal, ahead of her teammate Radoslav Malenovsky and the Spaniard Juan Antonio Saavedra Reinaldo. For the 41-year-old Vadovicova, it was already the seventh medal in her sixth Paralympics.
Liestmann also just watches in the final
The second German starter in the mixed air rifle also missed the final. Tjark Liestmann reached 13th place in his Paralympics debut. He scored 632.5 points in the Chateauroux Shooting Centre. “I am definitely satisfied. I was able to repeat the performance that I delivered at the European Championships one to one,” the 24-year-old said, analyzing the competition.
Liestmanns had once set the Paralympics in Los Angeles in 2028 as his goal. He describes the fact that it has already worked out as a “happy bonus”.
Möbius also not in the final
Moritz Möbius is also out after qualifying in class R5 (air rifle, 10 m, prone). Möbius shot 628.9 rings. This meant 31st place in the end. Only the first eight shooters reach the final. For Möbius, this is the second Paralympic Games. In Tokyo, he came 27th in the same class. On Wednesday (04.09.24) the 25-year-old will start in class R9 (air rifle, 50 m, prone).
