Return could still be a shot
DANIEL Repacholi has been talked out of retirement twice before - but this time, it’s for real. Probably.
After his wife and two kids watched the gentle giant of Australian shooting say goodbye to the Commonwealth Games with another gold medal, Repacholi is keen to go out on top.
Sporting an enormous beard that would put Ned Kelly to shame, the 35-yearold’s sheer accuracy in yesterday’s 50m pistol final might have also had the legendary bushranger covered too.
Repacholi was dialled in, with his last 14 shots all scoring 9.2 points or greater, as he romped to a comprehensive victory ahead of Bangladesh’s Shakil Ahmed and India’s Om Mitharval.
It’s his third Commonwealth title, and most likely his last. Repacholi is stepping away from international competition after the Gold Coast Games to spend more time with his family.
On the evidence of his performance at Belmont, he’s got plenty of good shooting left in him.
And having shelved retirement plans after the last two Olympics, it’s hard to totally believe him.
“They’re he said.
“I have travelled the world and I’ve had a great time doing very persuasive,” it. I know I’ve got plenty of good left in me but I need to spend more time with the family. Family’s more important right now.
“It’s a huge financial sacrifice as well.
“I took a heap of time off work, you never have normal holidays, anything.
I CAME HERE FOR TWO (GOLDS), BUT I GOT ONE. I CAN WALK AWAY WITH THAT AND HOLD MY HEAD HIGH
“To win gold, it’s all worth it. That’s why we do it.”
Repacholi also revealed the secret behind his famous beard.
“I got it to annoy her (my wife, Alex),” he said.
“I wouldn’t say she loves it.” Repacholi said his trademark lucky rainbow socks – given to him by his wife before Glasgow – were “seeping through” his skin as he produced a vintage performance yesterday, which more than made up for missing the podium in his other event, the 10m air pistol.
“It’s f---ing awesome,” said Repacholi.