Choong’s a trigger happy Joe
BRIT KEPT COOL TO HIT GOLD
THIS time when he fired and missed Joe Choong didn’t go to pieces.
He took aim again, squeezed the trigger and struck gold for Britain for the 20th time at these Tokyo Games. He banished the memory of stuffing up in Rio and delivered a victory double for Britain’s dominant modern pentathletes. “It’s unbelievable,” the Kent athlete said after repeating the achievement of Kate French to give the nation its first ever male winner.
He said: “There’s just so many emotions going through my head – disbelief, shock.”
Choong had been in second place at the 2016 Olympics going into the final event, the laser run. He ended up 10th.
One of his shots from the laser failed to register and, by his own admission, he “totally and mentally” went. “I couldn’t hit a shot after that,” he said.
Four years on his aim was once more off as he took eight shots to hit five targets on his first lap of the laser run.
“Shooting was a bit sketchy again, I thought I was going to lose it after that,” he said. “It just shows the experience I gained from Rio. I kept my cool and nailed it.”
It was still tight as Ahmed Elgendy made up a 50-second gap to go ahead at the start of the final lap.
But Choong, 26, had the kick when it counted and burned off his Egyptian rival in the sprint to the line.
His win sparked emotional scenes on the podium as he collected his medal. “I was just thinking of my family,” he said, wiping his eyes. “Parents, my grandma, grandad. He died a couple of years ago. He would have loved to see this.
“I’ve been thinking of the moment ever since I can remember. I remember watching the Sydney Olympics when I was five, then Kelly Holmes in Athens.
“I’ve always said I’ve wanted to be the best in the world at something. This is a dream come true.”
Choong got off to a flying start, finishing joint top in fencing and third in the 200m freestyle swim, before winning the bonus fencing round.
He then had the good fortune to draw Clntino, the horse French had ridden her way to her gold on.
“I was thinking don’t get one of the difficult ones,” he said.
“I got the same one Kate got so it’s obviously a bit of a lucky charm.”
Although he had 14 faults it was enough to take a 12-second lead into the laser run.
And that, in turn, proved just enough to get him home.