Richard Faulds, of Britain, struck gold in a thrilling men’s double trap shoot-out in Sydney today. The 23-year-old from Longparish in Hampshire beat Russell Mark, of Australia, to win Britain’s second gold of the Games.
Faulds, who was lying fourth going into the final round, kept his nerve at the Sydney International Shooting Centre to become Britain’s first shooting gold medal-winner since Malcolm Cooper in 1988. It was Britain’s second shooting medal of the Games after Ian Peel’s silver in the men’s trap.
Faulds, who was fifth at the Atlanta Games four years ago, qualified for these Olympics by shooting a double trap world record score at a World Cup meeting, also held in Atlanta. The Surrey-born marksman, who competes for the East Yorkshire Gun Club, was two points behind Mark, who had shot an Olympic record total of 143 in the preliminary round.
But in the six-man final, Faulds levelled the score with the Australian to set up the two-man gold medal shoot-out. Mark had the crowd behind him but Faulds hit three of the four clay targets to Mark’s two to clinch the Olympic gold. The bronze medal went to Fehaid Al Deehani, of Kuwait, who missed the gold medal shoot-out by one point.
A jubilant Faulds said: "I thought I had lost it. I cannot believe it. It’s a dream come true - somebody smack me! Russell [Mark] is the greatest without doubt and to beat him is awesome."
