– He can’t handle the pressure of standing shooting here, exclaimed news commentator Ola Lunde when Jon-Hermann Hegg’s 5th place was a fact. The Norwegian was unable to keep his composure in standing shooting after a huge opening. For Hegg long led the competition in 50 meter rifle in Paris. But in the enormous pressure of standing shooting, the Norwegian struggled in the intense medal match. And in the end he shot off the podium and finished as the fifth last shooter. – More and more pressure builds up, and it is almost inhumane to handle it, says national team coach Espen Berg-Knutsen to news after the competition. IMPRESSED: Jon-Hermann Hegg had a hard time after missing out on the medal. Photo: Amr Alfiky / Reuters Disappointed Hegg himself was disappointed after the final. – I do everything I can and it gets tough standing up, and it doesn’t last at that level here, says Hegg to news after the final. He says he has to work for a long time to digest the disappointment after the final. The medal missed the last shots. – I have to try to think that there is more to life and, says Hegg. Results shooting final 50 meters rifle 1. Yukun Liu, China – 463.6 points 2. Serhij Kulish, Ukraine – 461.3 points 3. Swapnil Kusale, India – 451.4 points 4. Jiri Privratsky, Czech Republic – 440.7 points 5 Jon-Hermann Hegg, Norway – 430.2 points Source: Olympics.com – I would like to have a medal, but it’s as close as it gets, says Hegg. But in standing shooting, the trend became increasingly worse. – He’s breathing heavily and the sweat is pouring off him, exclaimed news commentator Lunde as the shots began to go off the rails for the Norwegian. STRONG START: Jon-Hermann Hegg got off to a great start and took an early lead in the Olympic final. Photo: Manish Swarup / AP – Right now he is far down, of course, after having been so good at the start. But he manages to turn it around quickly, says national team coach Berg-Knutsen. He says that Hegg has trained purposefully for three years for this particular Olympic moment. And it started extremely well. For Hegg led for both kneeling and prone shooting. At the same time, Chinese Liu, the world record holder who was chasing after the Norwegian, was sweating. But it was to be even tougher – for the Norwegian. China’s Liu eventually took the gold in the Olympic final. SWEAT FOR HEGG: It was extremely hot for the well-dressed shooters during the Olympic final. Photo: Amr Alfiky / Reuters news expert Katrine Aanestad Lund believes Hegg was just as nervous throughout the competition. But she thinks a thought probably crept in that he was on to something big in standing shooting. – Thoughts of consequences easily appear deep down. As soon as they are there, it starts to smoke, says Aanestad Lund. She noticed how hot it was in the hall. – Everyone is standing and sweating and I don’t think I’ve seen that before. It was equally hard for everyone, she says. Taking action Although several gold favorites have already been in action in the French capital, Norway is still without a medal in the Olympics. In the 50-meter rifle shooting final, an ice vest from the Olympics in Athens in 2004 could ensure that the margins tipped in Norway’s favor during the Olympics in Paris 20 years later. Or rather Châteauroux, where the shooting exercises are held. Because the shooting coach had taken action in the extremely hot conditions. ATHENS WEAPON: Norway’s Olympic hopes have an old weapon with them to the Games in Paris. Photo: Hans Andreas Solbakken / news – I have had it deep in the basement for 20 years and hoped that no one at the Olympiatoppen would realize that I had not returned it, says trainer Espen Berg-Knutsen to news. Olympics: Espen Berg-Knutsen herself participated in the Olympics in Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008). The picture is from the participation in Athens. Photo: Tor Richardsen / NTB From Athens to the Olympics in Paris, Berg-Knutsen, who himself has three Olympic participations on his CV, took with him the ice vest he used during the Games in Athens in 2004. – I will take some of the credit for it. It is the OLT’s vest that I used in the Olympics in Athens in 2004, so it is high-level reuse, says Berg-Knutsen about the vest he has brought to the student in Paris, before continuing: – We brought it in case as hot as now. We put it in the freezer at night, so it’s as good as new every morning. FAR FROM COLD: The thermometer in the shooting hall shows over 30 degrees. Photo: Hans Andreas Solbakken / news And it is very hot. Inside the shooting hall, it was over 30 degrees during Wednesday’s qualification. And during the final on Thursday, there was high humidity in the shooting tail after heavy rain the night before. When the athletes also have to wear several layers of clothing, including super underwear, the sweat will quickly flow, even with an ice vest on before the start. The main character himself acknowledges that it is far from cool conditions that await the athletes when they enter the shooting hall. – Yes, it was hot. A little better today than yesterday, Jon-Hermann Hegg told news after he secured a final place in the 50 meter rifle on Wednesday. COOLING DOWN: The heat presents challenges for several of the athletes. Photo: AP Hailing the move One of those who hails the measure is news’s biathlon expert and shooting commentator, Ola Lunde. – With that temperature you have a higher heart rate, with harder pulse beats and then it is important to try to cool down the body as much as possible before you go on the road and shoot then, he says. Then all small measures can work, says Lunde. Nevertheless, he is surprised that the measure is a 20-year-old garment. – I think there must be ice vests that have been produced after 2004. I had not imagined an ice vest from 2004, he says with a chuckle about the unusual solution. Challenging days The last few days have by no means been easy for the Norwegian shooters, who have had a hard time at the start of the championship. As part of a Norwegian team, Hegg and Jeanette Hegg Duestad were 0.1 points from a bronze final on the first day of the championships in the team competition in 10 meter air rifle. In the individual competition, Hegg was 0.2 points from being among the eight who made it to the final, after a final shot of 9.6. Hegg Duestad managed to get to the final on the women’s side, but finished there last of the eight final participants. – How difficult have the last few days been? – It gradually gets easier and easier, but it pops up every now and then, and then I have to turn it around as quickly as possible before I dig in. It’s just a matter of being disciplined, says Hegg. Published 01.08.2024, at 05.57 Updated 01.08.2024, at 11.30 am
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The Olympic medal slipped away after an intense shooting final for Jon-Hermann Hegg – Olympics Paris 2024
