Bangkok, Oct 27 (IBNS) The 2012 ISSF Rifle & Pistol World Cup Final in Bangkok, which was closed on Saturday after five days and ten events, turned into the scene of a good-by.
Germany’s longest-standing Olympian ever, the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol shooter Ralf Schumann, announced his retirement, at the end of the competition.
Schumann, a seven-time Olympian (1988 to 2012), leaves the shooting world with an unmatched medals tally.
Three Olympic titles, a total of five Olympic medals, 3 World and 7 European Championship individual titles, as well as 13 ISSF World Cup trophies and 39 ISSF World Cup Gold medals. Nobody has won as much as he did.
The German champion, turning 50 this year, said he will be back as a coach.
"After more than 700 competitions, I feel it’s time to say good-by," Schumann said.
"Sometimes, a few years ago, I stopped counting the medals, and I only kept record of the titles."
"I have some five or six boxes full of medals at home. So, why should I keep on competing? It’s time for me to give something back. I will start coaching young athletes, and I hope I will become a national coach soon."
"What I have learned out of 35-years of professional sport? Never give up, don’t miss your targets!" Schumann eventually said, announcing his retirement.
Schumann made his announcement after finishing in fourth with 22 hits at the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event, while competing in the 2012 ISSF Rifle & Pistol World Cup Final held in Bangkok on the 26th of October.
The match was won by Martin Strnad (CZE) with 32 hits, while Silver went to Christian Raitz (GER) with 29 hits, and Bronze to Zhang Jian (CHN) with 25 hits.
Only the top performers were chosen and invited here to compete in the Final, which closed the 2012 ISSF World Cup Series.
The best ninety shooters coming from 34 countries around the world: the 2012 Olympic Champions and medallists, the title defenders and the best athletes selected throughout this year’s ISSF World Cup Stages in London, Milan and Munich.
It was the People’s Republic of China, the nation that finished atop of the medal standings, out of ten shooting events.
With a total of eight medals, including two Gold, two Silver and four Bronze medals, the Chinese shooters beat the Czech Republic, second with two Gold medals, and Germany, third with one Gold and two Silver medals.
