After 30 shots in fifth place, Ungerank improved to fourth in the first five-shot standing series, just one ring behind silver. After 40 shots, Ungerank was in third place, five shots ahead of the gold decision. However, a 9.0 on the 42nd shot in the direct knockout (the lowest score eliminated) meant the Zillertaler’s exit in the battle for medals.
Ungerank’s feelings afterward were “a bit mixed – I’m extremely happy that I was competitive,” she said in an interview with APA. “The level was very high, and what the other women achieved was really cool. It was totally exciting. I am very satisfied with the performance – first of all to qualify for the Olympics, then to reach the final, and now to end up in the good middle of the top eight is quite good, I must say.” The conditions in the final were difficult. “In the end, it got really hot in the hall.”
With the first position (kneeling), she was “extremely satisfied,” she analyzed her performance, noting that she left something behind in the first series while lying down and had problems with the mat. “Then I really got back into it well. I’m also totally satisfied standing – except for one or two ‘flyers.’ The rest was good; I shot many good tens.” Ranked 19th in the world, the Zillertaler was not considered among the favorites.
Gold went to Swiss shooter Chiara Leone, followed by American Sagen Maddalena for silver and Chinese Zhang Qiongyue for bronze. “Chiara is a tremendous shooter,” Ungerank paid tribute to her well-known winner, who also set an Olympic record. “It’s really nice, and you are even happier when everything works out for them.”
Not everything went well on Friday for Ungerank’s teammate Sylvia Steiner. The 42-year-old from Salzburg, who had already placed 27th with the air pistol, finished 17th in the qualification with the sport pistol at a distance of 25 meters among 40 participants – not enough for the final on Saturday.
Ungerank wanted to celebrate with family on Friday and then move to the Olympic Village to experience the Olympic atmosphere in Paris. This atmosphere was only palpable at the large facility of the “Centre national de tir sportif,” located somewhat off the beaten path, in the sleepy town of Châteauroux, 250 kilometers south of Paris. “We are allowed to stay there until the closing ceremony and then all travel back together by train on August 12.”
It is certain that for Ungerank, who has so far considered her eighth place at the World Championships in Cairo 2022 as her greatest success, the completion of her medical studies will have to wait a bit longer. “I have already completed all the exams and courses. I will do the remaining 40 weeks of internships when my sports career is over, as that is not compatible with my studies. The shortest internship block I can do is four weeks – and that doesn’t fit into the international competition calendar.” To shoot at such a level, a 40-hour training week is required, said the military athlete, who is grateful for the ideal support from the Bundesheer. Completing her Dr. med. “will probably still take a little while.”