Dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond will shoot for the first time since the 2012 London Olympic Games men’s trap final this weekend at the World Cup Final in Maribor, Slovenia.
The 40-year-old, who missed out on a shoot-off for the gold medal by just one target in London, will bid to defend the World Cup Final title that he won in 2011 at Al-Ain, UAE.
On that occasion Diamond won a thrilling shoot-off over Italian Rodolfo Vigano after the pair finished tied on 142 targets in soaring temperatures in the Middle Eastern country.
Diamond has won the prestigious title on four occasions since its commencement in 1988 and said his mind was firmly set on securing the trophy once again.
“The World Cup Final features the best shooters in the world and this year is no different with all of the medallists from London lining up in the men’s trap,” Diamond said.
“It is a world class field and will be a very difficult title to win, but as I have always done throughout my career I will back myself to stand on top of the medal dais after the final.”
Diamond said that although he was disappointed with his fourth place finish in London, the result had proved he still could mix it with the world’s best.
“My goal in London was to win gold and I came within a whisker of doing that,” Diamond said. “I still have a lot of years left in me at the highest level and I am looking forward to the challenge that Slovenia holds.”
Diamond earned the right to compete in the season ending event as the current title holder, while the last time he shot on the Maribor range he won silver at a World Cup event in 2011.
Diamond is Australia’s sole participant in the event, with competition commencing in the men’s trap on Saturday and concluding on Sunday.
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