The first Gold Medal of the Beijing Olympic Games went to the Czech Republic’s Katerina Emmons in the 10m air rifile event. She finished with a score of 503.5, a new Olympic record. Silver went to Lyubov Galkina of Russia and the Bronze was awarded to Snjezanan Pejcic of Croatia. IOC President, Jacques Rogge was on head to present these first medals of the Games.

Du Li of China, the defending Gold Medalist finished fifth.

Emmons met her future husband, fellow Olympic shooter Matt Emmons, at the Athens Games. Perhaps the pair will both be bringing home Gold?

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: EveryJoe

Czech Republic Snags First Beijing Gold Medal

US Shooting Gold Medalist, Matt Emmons met his wife, Czech Olympic shooter Katerina Kurkova, at the 2004 Athens Games and married her in 2007. Now the two of them are headed for Beijing.

Emmons earned a Gold Medal in Athens in the 50m prone rifle event and looked to be headed for a second Gold when he cross-fired (hit the adjacent target instead of his own) and finished eighth. While drowning his sorrows at the venue bar, Kurkova came over to console him. The rest is history.

Emmons is also the 2007 World Cup USA Gold Medalist and the 2007 USA Shooting Male Athlete of the Year.

Kurkova won a Bronze Medalist in Athens in the 10m air rifle event and is the 2002 World Champion.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: EveryJoe

Emmons and Kurkova: Husband-Wife Olympic Shooters