Shooting

European Championship silver and bronze for Austria’s team in Györ

Richard Zechmeister and Sylvia Steiner (left to right)(Bild: © ÖSB)

Sport shooters Sylvia Steiner and Richard Zechmeister have won the silver medal in the Olympic mixed team air pistol discipline at the European Championships in Györ! The red-white-red duo, who had won World Championship gold in 2022, were only beaten by Olena Kostewytsch/Oleg Omeltschuk from Ukraine in the final on Friday. Shortly before that, air rifle shooter Martin Strempfl had secured bronze in Hungary, winning his first European Championship gold medal. 

"Some of our shots in the final were very poor, but we can be very satisfied with second place," said Zechmeister. Steiner was not overjoyed either. "As always, I was very nervous in the final. The silver medal is good, but of course there is still room for improvement," emphasized the 41-year-old.

Strempfl: "A lot of positive energy came from the team!"
Strempfl scored 227.7 rings, in the end the world number two was only beaten in the final by Slovakia's Patrik Jany (251.2) and local hero Istvan Peni (249.7). "I'm very happy to have finally won a European Championship medal," said the 39-year-old Styrian happily. "I had good phases in the final and I fought to give my best. A lot of positive energy came from the team, who supported me loudly during the final," added Strempfl, who has already secured an Olympic quota place for the Summer Games in Paris.

Marlene Pribitzer reached the final in the women's air rifle event, where she achieved her best individual result at the European Championships with eighth place.