Reitz sets new world record in men's 25m rapid fire pistol

(BEIJING, May 29) -- Two German shooters from different generations squared off in the 25M Rapid Fire Pistol competition at the ISSF World Cup in Milan on May 28. Twenty-one-year-old Christian Reitz beat compatriot and Rapid Fire champion Ralf Schumann, aged 45, on his way to a new world record. Ivan Stoukachev, a 22-year-old Russian competing in his first World Cup match, earned bronze.

The young German accomplished three "impossible" missions in the victory, according to ISSF NEWS. First, he captured gold -- his third World Cup medal in 2008, adding to the gold and silver he won in Rio and Munich, respectively. Second, having already tied the world record with 591 points entering the final, he stepped onto the podium with an incredible new record of 794 points. And third, he accomplished all this by beating 20-year veteran Ralf Schumann, a three time Olympic medalist that some call the "champion of all champions."

This was the second meeting of the year for the two German shooters. In the World Cup in Munich, Schumann took gold and left Reitz with silver. This time, the veteran's solid 199.7 point final, which gave him a total score of 789.7, fell four points shy of the younger shooter.

"Reitz excels in Rapid Fire," said Schumann, "he is achieving such results in spite of his age. He has a bright future in front of him if he keeps following this path."

Both Schumann and Reitz will represent Germany at the Olympics in Beijing.