Finally: glorious victory for Rajmond Debevec
SYDNEY, 23 September 2000 - Slovenia has won its second gold medal
of the day and the Games with victory to Rajmond Debevec in the men's
50-metre rifle 3-position final. "Sydney 2000" is Debevec's
fifth Olympiad. In 1992 and 1996 he was 6th.
Debevec set an Olympic record to lead the event after qualifying
with1177.0, and then shot consistently in the final to win by almost
five points over Finland's Juha Hirvi and Norway's Harald
Stenvaag. Debevec finished with 1275.1 points, Hirvi 1270.5 and
Stenvaag 1268.6. It was a disappointing performance for Stenvaag in
the final. The Norwegian was second after qualifying, but shot poorly
to see Debevec skip clear and Hirvi, who was four points behind him
after qualifying, catch up and pass him.
