Adams misses skeet shooting final in Olympic debut

KIPPA-RING’S “bloody good” skeet shooter Paul Adams did not have the debut Olympic Games he was after, missing out on a semi-final berth.

Skeet shooter Paul Adams. Picture: Chris Higgins

Kippa-Ring’s “bloody good” skeet shooter Paul Adams did not have the debut Olympic Games he was after.

The 24-year-old, ranked No. 26 in the world, placed ninth on his first day of competition and 19th overnight with 118/125, missing out on a spot in the medal shoot out.

Italy’s Gabriele Rossetti took out the event, Sweden’s Marcus Svensson won silver and independent athlete Abdullah Al-Rashidi claimed bronze.

Adams, a part-time nurse at Redcliffe Hospital, said he was “not very happy with the result”.

“Missed very random targets and unfortunately no semi final,” he wrote on Facebook.

Adams thanked everyone who had helped him along the way, including his mum — his “greatest inspiration”, grandpa and coach Ian Mathieson, his Redcliffe Hospital colleagues, and his sponsors.

“It has been long four year cycle and I am glad to have three months off and relax away from the range,” Adams said.

Mathieson, who first taught Adams to shoot, aged 10, on the same .22 single shot rifle he learned to shoot with, said the former Mueller College student “missed a couple of targets more than he should have”.

“Paul earned his right to be there but it was disappointing in the end,” Mathieson said.

“There were some big names down the list, that’s for sure (including American shooter Vincent Hancock) ... the winner definitely shot well.

Skeet shooter Paul Adams. Picture: Chris Higgins

“We’re proud Paul got there, to the Olympics. We still love him as our grandson.”

Mathieson, 83, said Adams’ break would help him “gather his wits” before he began preparations for the Commonwealth Games and Tokyo Olympic Games.

Redcliffe Hospital nurse unit manager of the operating suite Joy Jensen said Adams had his “very own cheer squad” at the hospital.

“All of us here were and are 100 per cent behind him,” Jensen said.

“He would be very disappointed with himself at the moment and beating himself up, but it’s just the beginning.

“Paul epitomises what an Australian athlete should be and I have no doubt once he gets over the disappointment, there will be more ahead for him.

“He’s amazing.”

The 24-year-old, ranked No. 26 in the world, placed ninth on his first day of competition and 19th overnight with 118/125, missing out on a spot in the medal shoot out.

Italy’s Gabriele Rossetti took out the event, Sweden’s Marcus Svensson won silver and independent athlete Abdullah Al-Rashidi claimed bronze.

Adams, a part-time nurse at Redcliffe Hospital, said he was “not very happy with the result”.

“Missed very random targets and unfortunately no semi final,” he wrote on Facebook.

Adams thanked everyone who had helped him along the way, including his mum — his “greatest inspiration”, grandpa and coach Ian Mathieson, his Redcliffe Hospital colleagues, and his sponsors.

“It has been long four year cycle and I am glad to have three months off and relax away from the range,” Adams said.

Mathieson, who first taught Adams to shoot, aged 10, on the same .22 single shot rifle he learned to shoot with, said the former Mueller College student “missed a couple of targets more than he should have”.

“Paul earned his right to be there but it was disappointing in the end,” Mathieson said.

“There were some big names down the list, that’s for sure (including American shooter Vincent Hancock) ... the winner definitely shot well.

“We’re proud Paul got there, to the Olympics. We still love him as our grandson.”

Mathieson, 83, said Adams’ break would help him “gather his wits” before he began preparations for the Commonwealth Games and Tokyo Olympic Games.