The shooting contest differs from the other events in the pentathlon championships as the explosive and athletic energy of the other events is replaced by the athletes’ absolute concentration and calm. It is completely quiet in the indoors shooting range and instead of a cheering audience the spectators are silently focused on the marksmen.
First of all, the weapons – in this case pistols – have to be inspected and approved. After the weapons inspection, the marksmen begin their breathing and aiming exercises before they reach the required level of calm and concentration and the shooting contest can begin for real.
This year, the shooting event is performed with air-pistols which means the marksmen have the opportunity to use the new air-pistol shooting range at the Fyrishov Sports Centre in Uppsala, which was previously not possible when older weapons were used in aeronautical pentathlon.
The Romanian team unfortunately did not get clearance to bring their weapons on the flight to Sweden. However, a local shooting club in Uppsala came to the Romanian team’s rescue and lent them the club’s own pistols.
It is a disadvantage of course to shoot with a borrowed weapon you have never before held in your hand, but the Romanian team proved to be more skilled than the disadvantages they were faced with, they came second place after Finland that won the competition.