Rio Olympics 2016: South Korea's Jin Jong-Oh makes history with third straight gold in 50m pistol

Rio de Janeiro: Jin Jong-Oh, whose bespoke red gun’s design was inspired by Formula One legend Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari, made Olympic history in Rio on Wednesday by defending his men’s 50m pistol title. The South Korean became the first shooter to win the same event at three successive Games after gold in Beijing and London. Jin had to do it the hard way, coming back from seventh place in the finals at the Deodoro shooting range. [caption id=“attachment_2948394” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Jin Jong-Oh of South Korea poses with his gold medal. Reuters[/caption] “I told myself don’t give up, don’t give up. I wanted to give up I was doing badly, but I said to myself this is my last Olympics. I cannot give up. “I have won three (50m pistol) gold medals at the Olympics, but this one is the happiest and most valuable because this was the most challenging competition and I was under the greatest pressure.” On his individualistic style of weapon, which has ‘No.1’ engraved on it, he said: “The president of the company in Switzerland was very accommodating of my request for the gun, and it took two years to make.” Hoang Xuan Vinh claimed silver to add to his opening day’s 10m air pistol gold, the first ever Olympic title for Vietnam. North Korean Kim Song Guk took bronze. For Jin, gold was handsome compensation after failing to defend his London 2012 win in the 10m air pistol. He had his head in his hands last Saturday when knocked out in fifth place in the final behind Vinh. But four days on he was all smiles as he savoured his fourth Olympic gold in total. “I did badly in the 10m so I wanted to do better today. I felt nervous. I’m so glad I did well,” said the two-time international shooter of the year. Bronze medallist Kim expressed regret that he and Jin were not able to compete for a unified Korea. “If our two countries (the Democratic People’s of Korea and South Korea) were united as one, the gold and bronze medals would be recognised as for one country - Korea. That would be great.”