HistoryData
sports2008

Shooting at the 2008 Summer Olympics — competition at the 2008 Olympic Summer Games

January 1, 2008

The 2008 Olympic shooting competitions produced historic milestones including India's first individual Olympic gold and the sport's first major doping disqualification.

Quick Facts

Year
2008
Category
sports

Key Facts

Dates held
August 9–17, 2008
Total events
15
Host country gold medals
5
Kateřina Emmons air rifle score
400 (equalled world record)
Doping disqualification
Kim Jong-su stripped of two medals for propranolol
Abhinav Bindra achievement
India's first individual Olympic gold medal

By the Numbers

9
Dates held
15
Total events
5
Host country gold medals
400
Kateřina Emmons air rifle score

Location

Map of Beijing, ChinaMap of Beijing, ChinaBeijing, China

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

As part of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, shooting was scheduled across two venues — the Beijing Shooting Range Hall for rifle and pistol events and the Beijing Shooting Range Clay Target Field for shotgun events — bringing together elite competitors from across the world over a nine-day period.

Event

Fifteen shooting events were contested from August 9 to 17. China won five gold medals as the host nation. Notable performances included Abhinav Bindra's historic individual gold for India, Kateřina Emmons's world-record-equalling score of 400 in women's air rifle, and a poignant podium moment between Russian and Georgian athletes whose nations were simultaneously at war.

Consequence

The competition produced lasting records in Olympic participation history, with several shooters reaching five, six, or seven career Olympic appearances. North Korean Kim Jong-su's disqualification for propranolol use marked the sport's first major doping case, drawing attention to beta-blocker use in precision sports and prompting broader anti-doping scrutiny.

Result

China (host nation)
5 gold medals of 15 events

at Beijing Shooting Range Hall / Beijing Shooting Range Clay Target Field

Kateřina Emmons equalled the world record with a perfect 400 in women's 10m air rifle

Timeline Context

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