Olympics | China's Li Yuehong wins men's 25m rapid fire pistol gold at Paris Olympics

Gold medalist Li Yuehong of China attends the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

CHATEAUROUX, France, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's veteran shooter Li Yuehong won his maiden gold at his thrid Olympics after victory in men's 25m rapid fire pistol here on Monday.

The 34-year-old made 32 hits in the final to secure the fifth shooting gold for China, the best record for the powerhouse in an oversea Olympics. Cho Yeong-jae of South Korea took the silver medal with 25 hits and Li's compatriot Wang Xinjie came in third.

Taking a three-hit lead before the last series, Li, shooting first, needed only three hits to win but made a perfect five to enjoy his moment of celebration, pumping his fist in the air before bursting into tears when hugging his coach.

Bronze medalist at both Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympics, Li took an early lead in the final but saw his position overtaken by Cho when he only made two hits in the fourth series. He came back on top two series later and remained stable afterwards to change the color of his medal to gold.

Wang, despite a perfect five in the opening series, was on the verge of elimination after three shaky ones, but managed to edge Florian Peter of Germany to make the top three through shoot-off and finished third one hit short. 

Gold medalist Li Yuehong (C) of China, silver medalist Cho Yeongjae (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Wang Xinjie of China attend the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Bronze medalist Wang Xinjie of China attends the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong (C) of China, silver medalist Cho Yeongjae (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Wang Xinjie of China attend the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong of China attends the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong (C) of China, silver medalist Cho Yeongjae (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Wang Xinjie of China attend the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong of China attends the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong (C) of China, silver medalist Cho Yeongjae (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Wang Xinjie of China take selfies during the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong of China attends the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong (C) of China, silver medalist Cho Yeongjae (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Wang Xinjie of China attend the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong of China attends the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong of China attends the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong (C) of China, silver medalist Cho Yeongjae (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Wang Xinjie of China attend the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong (C) of China, silver medalist Cho Yeongjae (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Wang Xinjie of China attend the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong (C) of China, silver medalist Cho Yeongjae (2nd L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Wang Xinjie (2nd R) of China attend the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Gold medalist Li Yuehong (L) of China and bronze medalist Wang Xinjie of China are seen during the awarding ceremony after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Li Yuehong (C) of China, Cho Yeongjae (L) of South Korea and Wang Xinjie of China are seen after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Li Yuehong of China competes during the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Li Yuehong of China celebrates after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Li Yuehong of China reacts during the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Li Yuehong (C) of China, Cho Yeongjae (L) of South Korea and Wang Xinjie of China are seen after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Li Yuehong of China celebrates after the 25m rapid fire pistol men's final of shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)