2022 European Championships 25/50m: Preview, schedule, and how to watch pistol and rifle shooting stars in Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier
This year’s edition of the European Championships 25/50m is underway in Wroclaw, Poland with eight spots at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 up for grabs when finals take place between 14 and 18 September. Find out everything you need to know about the continental qualifier below.
Shooting
Eight tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympics in the sport of shooting are at stake at the 2022 European Championships 25/50m that are taking place between 5 and 18 September in Wroclaw, Poland.
While the event began with the competitions for the junior shooters, the seniors start their campaigns on 12 September with the all-important medal matches beginning on 14 September.
There will be two Olympic quota places available to be won in each of the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions, women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions, men's Rapid Fire Pistol, and women's 25m Pistol will each earn spots at the next edition of the Olympic Games in Paris.
Action in the Paris 2024 Qualifier disciplines will be broadcast on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions apply).
In addition to the individual competitions, there will be 25m Rapid Fire Pistol and 50m Rifle 3 Positions men’s team events, 25m Pistol and 40m Rifle 3 Positions women’s team events, and mixed team events for the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, 50m Rifle 3 Positions and 50m Rifle Prone. These do not offer direct Olympic quota spots.
The Paris 2024 Olympic qualification spots on offer at the 2022 European Championships 25/50m in rifle and pistol shooting
The 2022 European Championships 25/50m are a key event on the Road To Paris, as a direct Paris 2024 Qualifier with eight Olympic spots on offer.
The top two athletes in each of the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions, women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions, men's Rapid Fire Pistol, and women's 25m Pistol will each earn spots for their nation at the next edition of the Olympic Games in Paris, provided the athletes are not from the same country. One nation can only win a single qualification place in each event at one championship.
Some 56 competitors will vie to secure the Olympic qualification spots in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, with a further 120 competing in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event. In the women’s category, there will be 62 starters in the 25m Pistol with 120 in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions.
When and where are the 2022 European Championships 25/50m taking place?
For seniors, the action begins in earnest on 12 September with the first final taking place on 14 September with the women’s 25m Pistol. The competition concludes on 18 September with the final of the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol team event.
The WKS Śląsk Wrocław shooting range will host the entire event, which is located in the Polish city of Wroclaw.
Athletes to watch at the 2022 European Championships 25/50m in rifle and pistol shooting
France's Jean Quiquampoix will be aiming for a top spot on the podium following his gold medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol competition at Tokyo 2020 in 2021. The 26-year-old shooter also won silver at Rio 2016 and will be eager to impress as he aims for a second consecutive gold at his home Games In Paris.
Joining him in Poland will be another Olympic champion, with Nina Christen of Switzerland confirmed to compete. Christen left Japan last year with two medals, including gold in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions and bronze in the 10m Air Rifle. She also won mixed team gold in 50m Rifle Prone at the 2019 European Games in Minsk.
Another favourite for gold will be Greece's Rio 2016 25m Pistol champion Anna Korakaki, who also took home bronze in the 10m air pistol competition in Brazil. The athlete holds the distinction of being the first-ever woman to be the originating Olympic athlete torchbearer at an Olympic torch relay.
British hopes will hang on the shoulders of the likes of Seonaid McIntosh, who won the 50m Rifle Prone gold medal at the 2018 World Championships in Changwon, as well as bronze in the women's team 50m Rifle Prone at the same event. She will be competing at the European Championships in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions competition.
2022 European Championships 25/50m schedule (finals)
All times Central European Summer Time / CEST (GMT +2 hours)
Wednesday 14 September 2022
11:00: Women’s 25m Pistol (25m W) - Two Paris 2024 Olympic quota berths available
17:00: Men’s Rapid Fire Pistol (25m RFP M) - Two Paris 2024 Olympic quota berths available
19:00: Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (50m 3P M) - Two Paris 2024 Olympic quota berths available
Thursday 15 September
11:30: Mixed 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
17:00: Women’s 50m 3 Positions (50m 3P W) - Two Paris 2024 Olympic quota berths available
Friday 16 September
11:15: Women’s team 25m Pistol
13:00: Mixed 50m 3 Positions
17:30: Mixed 50m Rifle Prone
Saturday 17 September
13:00: Men’s team 50m 3 Positions
16:45: Women’s team 50m 3 Positions
18:30: Men’s team 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
How to watch at the 2022 European Championships 25/50m and Olympic Qualifiers in rifle and pistol shooting
Action in the Paris 2024 Qualifier disciplines will be broadcast on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions apply).