Martynov wins gold in 50m prone rifle

Belarus’s Sergei Martynov shows his gold medal after winning the 50m Rifle Prone Men final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London. Martynov clinched gold in the men’s shooting 50m rifle prone on Friday after scoring an Olympic record maximum 600 points en route to the final.

LONDON - Sergei Martynov of Belarus clinched gold in the men’s shooting 50m rifle prone on Friday after scoring an Olympic record maximum 600 points en route to the final.

The 44-year-old veteran, competing in his sixth Olympic Games after making his first appearance way back in 1988, secured the first gold medal of his long career ahead of Belgium’s Lionel Cox and Rajmond Debevec of Slovenia.

Sergei Martynov’s decision to use a museum piece weapon paid off Friday when his Soviet-era gun allowed him to hit a perfect score and clinch Olympic gold in the 50m rifle prone event.

He also notched a record maximum 600 points en route to the final but denied he disliked using modern equipment.

“I am not prejudiced about any rifle and rounds, but for the Olympics you are going to choose something you are comfortable with,” he said after revelling in the accuracy of his Soviet rifle.

“I admit my equipment is old but why fix what is not broken? If you have something that worked for you and yields results, why change it?”