Peter Wilson yesterday won the Gold medal in the double trap shooting competition, Britain’s fourth Gold of the 2012 Olympics.
Hailing from Devon and only 25 years old, Wilson kept his cool at the Royal Artillery in Woolwich as he went for the top spot, beating Sweden’s Hakan Dahlby by two shots.
Wilson scored 188 out of 200 and caused a massive eruption of cheers and applause from the packed-out stands of spectators as he sank to his knees acknowledging his Olympic win.
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Wilson has been coached by Sheikh Ahmed al-Maktoum since he was removed from lottery funding the year following the Beijing games, which he attended as part of the future talent programme. With no income and no funding, Wilson persuaded the member of Dubai’s royal family and 2004 Olympic shooting champion to coach him without being able to pay him.
The last time Britain claimed a medal in Olympic shooting was Richard Faulds’ Gold in Sydney 2000. Although competing alongside Wilson, Faulds missed out on getting through to the final. He was, however, present in the crowd of the final, cheering Wilson on to his win.
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