Shooter Zechmeister

A packed program in the battle for the Olympics

Richard Zechmeister still has a chance at the Olympics.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Rio, Baku, Osijek, Munich - Brazil, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Germany. The program of marksman Richard Zechmeister until the end of May has it all. In Rio there are two more places for the Olympics, at the European Championships in Osijek two. And after that there is still a mini-chance via the world rankings.

On Tuesday, the shooter from Eisenstadt flew to Rio for the quota place tournament starting on Saturday: "There are two places each for the Olympics, with the air pistol and the rapid fire pistol." The penultimate opportunity for Paris in the summer, so to speak. "Everything has to come together," says the 48-year-old, "the chances are there, but not very high."

Zechmeister is and has been very successful in mixed doubles with Sylvia Steiner.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The competition in Sugarloaf Mountain is, of course, very competitive. "Although there are no world ranking points, all athletes are allowed to take part. At first it was said that only those not yet qualified for the Olympics could take part." It has no influence on the allocation of tickets, but more athletes also means more hype.

"The training sessions have been good recently"
Zechmeister's performance at the domestic championships in Kufstein in March was mixed. "The basic round was okay, the final was a disaster," says the marksman, "but the training sessions have been good recently." Richard knows the course in Brazil well and is there for the fourth time. "I have to adjust to the high humidity, I remember the range as being very loud." But that shouldn't bother him with his sights set on the Olympics.