Matt Coward-Holley was unable to add a second medal to his Tokyo portfolio but insists he’s loved every minute of his first Olympic Games. 

The Chelmsford shooter won individual bronze in the men’s trap on Thursday but he and teammate Kirsty Hegarty bowed out of the mixed team event in the qualifying round. 

They scored a combined 143 out of 150 but that was only good enough for 10th place with the four progressing to the medal matches, highlighting the quality of the field they were in. 

No crowd has made for a soulless atmosphere in Tokyo at times but Coward-Holley says the British team have made their own noise and he’s relished his maiden Games.

 

“It’s been a good week, first Olympics, individual bronze and then to even have the opportunity to go again for a medal with Kirsty is an experience most shooters don’t get as we don’t usually get two events,” he said.  

“It’s been a phenomenal experience, we both shot well and we both enjoyed the day. Anywhere else in the world we would have been a lot happier but not here.” 

Coward-Holley scored 73 from 75, while Hegarty scored 70, but they finished three points off the top four. 

Coward-Holley will now turn his attention towards next season’s big events, starting with the World Championships in Baku in June and then the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he will be one of the favourites for gold. 

He and Northern Ireland’s Hegarty won’t be able to join forces in the latter but Coward-Holley is encouraged by their blossoming partnership after they produced another strong display at the Asaka Shooting Range. 

“We definitely did shoot well and as Kirsty said any other competition 143 would have been knocking on the door for a bronze medal match, but we’re at the Olympics - people shoot well here,” he said.  

“We shot well as a pair, we shot 143 a good enough score anywhere else in the world to at least be in and around a medal match.” 

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