Shooter Franček Gorazd Tiršek wins gold at Paralympics
Slovenian shooter Franček Gorazd Tiršek won gold in the air rifle standing position (category R4) at the Paralympic Games on 30 August. This is his fifth Paralympic medal but the first gold.
Tiršek was sixth in the preliminary round but then quickly climbed in the rankings to make the relegation round.
In the final round, he beat French competitor Tanguy de La Forest by 0.2 rounds with a new Paralympic record of 253.3.
Air rifle standing position is Tiršek's favourite event and he won silver in the three previous Paralympic Games.
"Gold was still missing. I was often close and almost held it, but luck had not been on my side. I truly fought for this gold," Tiršek said after defeating one of the world's best Paralympic shooters.
He said the period since the Beijing Paralympics had been riddled with difficulties, especially with equipment. "Now we're really satisfied that everything clicked. Luck was on our side."
