Slovakian ace Stefecekova hits bull’s-eye in trap event

TOKYO: Slovakia’s Zuzana Rehak Stefecekova is now an Olympic champion after twice winning silver at previous Games; Alessandra Perilli secures San Marino’s first-ever Olympic medal with bronze.

Stefecekova of Slovakia can add an Olympic gold medal to her trophy cabinet after winning the shooting women’s trap at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Stefecekova, who was the flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, was one of the favourites heading into the final.

The 37-year-old shot two scores of 75 in qualification, for a total of 125 - a qualification world record.

She only maintained that form and momentum in the final shooting 43 of 50 targets at the Asaka Shooting Range.

“I’m very happy with the qualification score. It was a dream and I’m also very happy with how the final went because I’m not a strong final shooter,” Stefecekova said.

Stefecekova is already a two-time Olympic silver medallist from Beijing 2008 and London 2012 but she missed Rio 2016 due to the birth of her son.

Kayle Browning of Team USA claimed silver with a score of 42 with San Marino’s Alessandra Perilli scooping bronze with 29 - her country’s first Olympic medal.

“We’ve gone through this whole process and won this medal as a team. Now the first person I’ve like to say thank-you too is Luka, my coach,” Perilli said.

“We’ve had ups and downs and we’ve succeed together. But we are like a big family and I think that’s what helped us to win.”

Perilli is a two-time Olympian, having competed at both London 2012 and Rio 2016. She came close to making the podium at London, finishing fourth but missed out on qualifying for the final in Rio.

“During the final, when the fifth shooter went out, I thought, I don’t want to be one more time in fourth place, so I have to make it.”

“This isn’t my first Olympics but this is the first medal for me and for my country. We are a small country but very proud.”

San Marino, a nation with a population of approximately 34,000, becomes the NOC with the lowest population to win a medal in the Olympic Games.