Chinese shooter Li Yuehong’s golden dream comes true in third attempt

CHATEAUROUX: It took Li Yuehong 14 years to reach the Olympic Games and another eight years to change the color of his medal from bronze to gold.

After earning bronze medals at the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Games, the veteran shooter finally stood atop the podium in his third Olympic appearance. His triumph in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event at the Paris Olympics not only fulfilled his long-held dream of winning gold but also represented China’s first Olympic gold in this event.

“This has been an incredible experience for me. All my hard work has paid off. I am extremely happy. This is a victory not just for me but for the whole team,” said Li, the reigning world champion and world record holder.

Leading 27 hits to 24 against Cho Yeong-jae of South Korea before the final series, Li needed just three more hits to secure his win. Shooting first, the 34-year-old delivered a perfect five, then pumped his fist in the air, celebrating his hard-fought triumph.

Li had a heartfelt message for his wife, a former shooter, who has always supported his Olympic dream. “I know it has been tough for her. I haven’t spent much time with her and our child for a while. Today is her birthday, and I think she will like this birthday gift,” he said.

Li’s journey in shooting began with a birthday gift from his father. On the eve of his sixth birthday, when asked what he wanted, young Li requested a gun and received a toy gun that shot rubber bullets.

In 2002, Li was selected by the Jinan Sports School shooting team based in east China’s Shandong Province, marking the start of his professional career. His coach at the time, Qiao Yicai, recalled Li as a thoughtful athlete: “From his training notes, you see his passion for shooting and his ambition. He wrote the best notes in the team. Even after joining the provincial and national teams, he kept up these good habits. Whenever he visited me, he always had a training notebook in his bag - an athlete like this is bound to succeed.”

With his remarkable talent and hard work, Li joined the provincial team in 2006 and was selected for the national team just three years later. Former Olympic champion Zhang Mengxue, who trained alongside Li, praised his dedication: “Yuehong is the most diligent member of the shooting team. He often practices alone at night and is one of the most hardworking among the talented shooters.”

Li’s significant breakthrough occurred in 2010 at the Guangzhou Asian Games, where he won gold medals in both the individual and team events for the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol, setting off his rise to international recognition.

In 2016, Li made his Olympic debut in Rio, where he performed well in both the qualification rounds and the final. However, he lost in a shoot-off to Jean Quiquampoix from France, finishing in third place.

His mother remembered his phone call after the match: “The first thing he said to me on the phone was, ‘Mom, I did my best.’” Li had the opportunity to see a different medal color in Tokyo, but once again, he ended up with bronze. He arrived in Chateauroux as a strong contender following his success at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games and the 2023 World Championships, where he set a world record with 39 hits. He also claimed gold medals in the two World Cups leading up to the Paris Olympics. “This time, I felt more prepared and capable of winning, concentrating on minimizing mistakes and avoiding past errors,” said Li.