Espen Berg-Knutsen

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Espen Berg-Knutsen
Espen Berg-Knutsen.jpg
Personal information
NationalityFlag of Norway.svg  Norway
Born (1969-10-02) 2 October 1969 (age 52)
Oslo, Norway
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight80 kg (176 lb)
Sport
Sport Shooting
Event(s)10 m air rifle (AR40)
50 m rifle prone (FR60PR)
50 m rifle 3 positions (STR3X20)
ClubNordstrand SSK
Medal record
Men's shooting
Representing Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1998 Zaragoza300STR3X20
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Zagreb 300FR3X40
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2002 Lahti FR60PR

Espen Berg-Knutsen (born 2 October 1969 in Oslo) is a Norwegian sport shooter. [1] He is also a three-time Olympian, two-time World champion, and world-record holder for the 300 m rifle three positions. [2]

Contents

Shooting career

Since his sporting career began in 1982, Berg-Knutsen is considered one of Norway's most prominent sport shooters, having achieved numerous successes in rifle shooting events at the ISSF World Championships, ISSF World Cup, and European Championships. He had also won a total of three medals at the ISSF World Championships, including two golds (1998 in Zaragoza, Spain, and 2006 in Zagreb, Croatia). One of the highlights of his career occurred at the 2006 ISSF World Shooting Championships, when he set a new world record of 1,181 points in the 300 m rifle three positions. [2] Berg-Knutsen also competed for all rifle shooting events at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, but he neither reached the final round, nor claimed an Olympic medal.

Eight years after competing in his first Olympics, Berg-Knutsen qualified for his third Norwegian team as a 39-year-old at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing by winning the gold medal for the rifle three positions from the World Championships. [2] Unlike his previous Olympic games, he competed only for two rifle shooting events, 50 m rifle prone (FR60PR) and 50 m rifle 3 positions (STR3X20).

In his first event, 50 m rifle prone, Berg-Knutsen was able to hit a total of 594 points within six attempts, finishing eleventh in the qualifying rounds. [3] Few days later, Berg-Knutsen competed for the 50 m rifle 3 positions, where he was able to shoot 396 targets in a prone position, 374 in standing, and 390 in kneeling, for a total score of 1,160 points, finishing abruptly in thirtieth place. [4]

Olympic results

Event200020042008
50 metre rifle three positions 12th
1162
22nd
1156
30th
1160
50 metre rifle prone 19th
593
16th
592
11th
594
10 metre air rifle 34th
585
41st
584

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References

  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Espen Berg-Knutsen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Solheim, Rolleiv. "Rifle shooting: World record, gold and silver for Norway". Norway Post. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  3. "Men's 50m Rifle Prone Qualification". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  4. "Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Qualification". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.