IAN O’SULLIVAN has won Gold at the Junior Men’s Trap event at the International Shooting World Championship in Granada today, beating competitors from 34 other countries.
The 18-year old faced Australia’s Jack Wallace in the final. After hitting ten targets in a row to begin the gold medal match, O’Sullivan missed his next two but still held on for the top prize.
““It was hard, but I managed to get through,” the Limerick native told the International Shooting Sport Federation website.
“I will tell [my Irish friends] that I’m the World Champion. I don’t know if they will believe me.”
Speaking to TheScore.ie this evening, O’Sullivan’s father Brian described the achievement as “unbelievable”.
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“It’s great. I’m just sorry I can’t be there but he’s gone out with a strong Irish team.
“I haven’t been able to speak to him for more than two minutes but he’s very happy.
“He’s one of these guys that plays it cool so I’m not surprised he won at all. The bigger the occasion, the better he performs.”
Ireland’s first ever gold medalist in this event comes from a long line of competitive shooters with both his father and grandfather competing with the Irish team.
“Ian’s been shooting from a very young age and he’s made the high performance squad. Him winning competitions is nothing new but this really is the pinnacle of our sport for his age group.”
That age though, just 18, means we may not see O’Sullivan compete in Rio in 2016.
“Realistically, Ian’s too young for Rio but you never know.
Ireland team manager Jeffrey McCready was also full of praise, telling the ISSF:
““I am so proud of him, I really am. The whole nation is proud of him. It’s a fantastic achievement. We’re so proud of him. We really are.”
Ireland's Ian O'Sullivan takes gold at the International Shooting World Championships
IAN O’SULLIVAN has won Gold at the Junior Men’s Trap event at the International Shooting World Championship in Granada today, beating competitors from 34 other countries.
The 18-year old faced Australia’s Jack Wallace in the final. After hitting ten targets in a row to begin the gold medal match, O’Sullivan missed his next two but still held on for the top prize.
““It was hard, but I managed to get through,” the Limerick native told the International Shooting Sport Federation website.
Speaking to TheScore.ie this evening, O’Sullivan’s father Brian described the achievement as “unbelievable”.
“It’s great. I’m just sorry I can’t be there but he’s gone out with a strong Irish team.
“I haven’t been able to speak to him for more than two minutes but he’s very happy.
“He’s one of these guys that plays it cool so I’m not surprised he won at all. The bigger the occasion, the better he performs.”
Ireland’s first ever gold medalist in this event comes from a long line of competitive shooters with both his father and grandfather competing with the Irish team.
“Ian’s been shooting from a very young age and he’s made the high performance squad. Him winning competitions is nothing new but this really is the pinnacle of our sport for his age group.”
That age though, just 18, means we may not see O’Sullivan compete in Rio in 2016.
“Realistically, Ian’s too young for Rio but you never know.
Ireland team manager Jeffrey McCready was also full of praise, telling the ISSF:
““I am so proud of him, I really am. The whole nation is proud of him. It’s a fantastic achievement. We’re so proud of him. We really are.”
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Gold Ian O'Sullivan Ireland Limerick Shooting Winning