Martynov equals Olympic record at rifle prone

Sergei Martynov of Belarus became the second shooter in Olympic history to score the maximum 600 points in qualifying for the final of the men’s 50-meter rifle prone at the London Olympics on Friday.

The top-ranked Martynov, competing in his sixth Olympics, matched the 16-year-old achievement by Christian Klees of Germany at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Klees went on the set the Olympic finals record at 704.8 points, which is also the world record.

Martynov first shot a perfect 600 at a World Cup event in Munich, Germany in 1997.

Martynov’s main rivals, Wang Weiyi of China and Marco De Nicolo of Italy, both failed to qualify for the final.