Paris 2024 Olympics: Sagen Maddalena Leads Pack In Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle Qualification, Advances To Final

USA Shooting’s Sagen Maddalena exits Paris Olympics Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle qualification round as top seed, advances to tomorrow’s final.

by
posted on August 1, 2024
Sagen Smallbore Paris2024 1
With a score of 593-45X, Team USA’s Sagen Maddalena topped the Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle qualification leaderboard at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Thursday, Aug. 1. She will compete in the event final in Chateauroux, France, Friday, Aug. 2, at 9:30 a.m. (Paris time).
Photo by Joshua Schave

Sagen Maddalena walked away from the Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle qualification round at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games today as the top-ranked shooter with a score of 593-45X after a monumental shooting performance.

While she said that she had some doubt before today’s qualification, it didn’t seem to affect her shooting in Chateauroux, France, today.

“I tried to stay calm, cool and collected,” Maddalena said. “Yesterday’s practice wasn’t great, but I was able to put that aside. I knew I had a job to do.”

She will compete in the Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle final wearing the number one bib at the Chateauroux Shooting Center’s Finals Range tomorrow, August 2, at 9:30 a.m. (Paris time).

During qualification, Maddalena only dropped two points in two series of kneeling position, was perfect in both series of prone position and posted 97 and 98 scores in the two series of standing position.

Additionally, during the Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle qualification round, the 32 competitors faced winds gusts of up to 20 m.p.h.

“It was windy, but it was consistent, so it was readable,” Maddalena said. “You have to keep a rhythm and keep ahead of the conditions. I stayed on my toes. The gusts came through, but they didn’t push my body. That’s a big thing. I was able to maintain control of myself, and I all I had to do was stay patient and know when to hold. It all comes with practice and timing.”

Her qualification score of 593-45X was five Xs ahead of second place shooter Qiongyue Zhang of China in the X-count. Both shooters’ scores established a new Olympic record for Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle qualification.

As the number one ranked Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle shooter at the Paris 2024 Olympics after qualification, Maddalena will rely on her shot process and timing during tomorrow’s final.

“It’s a clean slate tomorrow. Everyone starts from zero [during the final],” Maddalena said. “Tomorrow is about what I can control, taking hold of that and riding the high.”

Eight shooters will compete in the Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle event final tomorrow. They are listed below.

  1. Sagen Maddalena, 593-45X (United States)
  2. Qiongyue Zhang, 593-40X (China)
  3. Chiara Leone, 592-29X (Switzerland)
  4. Yesugen Oyunbat, 589-40X (Mongolia)
  5. Jeanette Duestad, 589-34X, (Norway)
  6. Natalia Kochanska, 589-30X (Poland)
  7. Nadine Ungerank, 589-27X (Austria)
  8. Stephanie Grundsoee, 589-26X (Denmark)

Earlier this week at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Maddalena just missed a podium finish in Women’s 10m Air Rifle, taking fourth place. She expanded about how she dealt with that disappointment in the days prior to competing in today’s Women’s 50m Smallbore 3-Position Rifle qualification round.

“I haven’t really been able to process it fully,” Maddalena said. “It’s a mix of being grateful for the opportunity and happy about the performance, but disappointed and sad about the outcome. So, it’s a mix of emotions. To go out right before the end wasn’t my best outcome, but it was a good performance.”

Check back often with Shooting Sports USA for the latest news and updates from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Learn more about USA Shooting at usashooting.org.

Latest

2014 Nra World Shooting Champ 1
2014 Nra World Shooting Champ 1

Classic SSUSA: The Inaugural NRA World Shooting Championship

Begin with 159 world champions, run them through 11 shooting stages, all with standard guns provided by the match sponsors, and you end up with a new trophy and $50,000 awarded to the inaugural NRA World Shooting Champion.

Legends: Sue Ann Sandusky 1952-2024

The shooting sports community mourns the loss of Sue Ann Sandusky, a three-time NRA All-American, Army veteran and Distinguished service rifle shooter, who sadly passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

Gunwerks Spike Feet Set Designed To Improve Grip And Add Stability In Uneven Terrain

This new set of spike feet for the Gunwerks Elevate 2.0 bipod promises to maintain a solid grip in tough terrain.

XS Sights Expands DXT2 Pro Series, R3D 2.0 Lineup For SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory And FN Pistols

XS Sights adds models to the DXT2 Pro Series and R3D 2.0 lineups that will fit SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory and FN pistols.

Modern Technology Implemented To Surmount Logistical Hurdles: 1958 National Matches

The more than 4,000 shooters at the 1958 NRA National Matches were greeted by advanced technology used to speed up administrative tasks during the most populous period in National Match history.

Looking Back At The 2009 NRA National High Power Championship

With a single X-shot determining the winner of a 300-yard shoot-off and a surprise at the awards ceremony, the 2009 NRA High Power Rifle matches held everyone’s attention right to the end.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.