ISSF Olympic Finals

Misny · Post by **Misny** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:52 pm

What is the purpose of this at a match? I see where the usual match in air gun is 60 shots. In some matches they take the top several shooters and have them fire an additional 10 shots for a "Finals".

Steve Swartz · Post by **Steve Swartz** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:26 pm

They take the 8 top qualifiers (during the 60 shot match) and they then shoot an additional ten shots, one shot at a time, scored in tenths of a point. (maximum of 109 points; added to your qulifier score).

This is how they pick the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals.

Not required for PTO matches; but not prohibited either if the Match Director wants to require the Finals.

Steve

bellyshooter · Post by **bellyshooter** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:29 pm

In order to maintain a presence in the Olympics, each sport needs to be as media friendly and as exciting as possible.

The finals were added to International events to ensure that the media would be willing to cover what was perceived by the uninitiated as a 'boring' sport. What could be more exciting than watching someone in the lead plummet out of the medals or, conversely, rise from 6th or 7th to grab the silver or bronze? In fact, after two Olympiads with finals, the blinders used by shooters were limited in size. The media wanted to see the athletes' faces. If they could zoom in on someone mouthing
"oh sh-t", that was even better.

So, the finals is what keeps the shooting sports at 15 disciplines in this coming Games. Camera's will be focused on the shooter's target screens as well as their faces and, when coverage is seen, you can bet it won't be from the qualifying rounds.

One cool fact to note, Women's Air Rifle is traditionally the first medal given at the Olympic Games. Let's hope this year that it is won by Emily C! (or, any other shooter not from China).

Fortitudo Dei · Post by **Fortitudo Dei** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:49 am

As well as making it more media "friendly", finals are the ultimate test of being able to remain calm under pressure. During the main match you can (depending on the event of course) take things at your own pace while being in your own little world. However during finals you can almost feel all the eyes of the audience burning holes in the back of your head. Each individual's score for each round is read out by an official so everyone know just how well (or not) you are doing. Naturally the more finals you get to shoot, the easier it becomes, but the shooter experiencing a greatly increased pulse-rate and poor shots being fired (well below the standard the shooter would normally expect during the main match) are all common occurrences during finals.

Misny · Post by **Misny** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:16 pm

Thanks for the replies. I now understand. I suppose the only time this would occur is when one is shooting on a range where the targets are automatically scored electronically. This "finals" score would not be considered where the classification breakdowns are made, would it?

PeterR · Post by **PeterR** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:36 pm

Finals are often shot using gauges for scoring. They are always held at our Nationals and at State Titles here.

The line judges use special decimal scoring gauges. The RIKA electronic scoring machine will also manage decimal scoring for finals. Manual finals scoring is slow but there are often big galleries of other competitors watching the action and the delay between the shot being fired and the score's announcement adds to the suspense.

PeterR · Post by **PeterR** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:38 pm

Finals are often shot using gauges for scoring. They are always held at our Nationals and at State Titles here.

The line judges use special decimal scoring gauges. The RIKA electronic scoring machine will also manage decimal scoring for finals. Manual finals scoring is slow but there are often big galleries of other competitors watching the action and the delay between the shot being fired and the score's announcement adds to the suspense.

methosb · Post by **methosb** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:29 am

Also add the extremely high scores everyone shoots in the qualifiers to the reasons for having a final. You can't give Gold, Silver and Bronze to 3 people who all shot the same score.

Spencer · Post by **Spencer** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:37 am

methosb wrote:You can't have Gold, Silver and Bronze to 3 people who all shot the same score.

But for those events without Finals you could have three golds - 7.12.1.1, 8.12.1.1, 9.12.3.2.1, 10.12.1

Steve Swartz · Post by **Steve Swartz** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:38 pm

creedmoor rules

top end · Post by **top end** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:24 am

I'll bite Steve, what are 'creedmore rules'?

Steve Swartz · Post by **Steve Swartz** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:12 pm

A way of breaking ties without finals/without a shootoff.

Start with last 10-shot string and go backwards; as soon as one shooter outdoes the other, stop- youhave a winner (can also be used for three-way ties. Also, if both shooters have identical string scores, start at last shot and go backwards).

Steve