The men's 300 metre free rifle kneeling event was one of five free rifle events in shooting at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. It was an individual kneeling position event, and competitors' scores also counted towards the individual and team three-position events. It was held from 3 to 5 August. There were 30 competitors from 6 nations, with each nation having a team of 5 shooters. Medals were given for individual high scores in each of the three positions, overall individual high scores, and the scores of the five shooters were summed to give a team score. The kneeling position was won by Konrad Stäheli of Switzerland, with Emil Kellenberger of Switzerland and Anders Peter Nielsen of Denmark tying for silver.
Background
This was the only appearance of the men's 300 metre kneeling rifle event. A three-positions event was also included in 1900 (summing the scores of the standing, kneeling, and prone competitions); the three-positions event continued, but future Games would not have separate kneeling-position events in this format.
Seven of the nine medalists at the world championships since the world championships began in 1897 were competing. The world champions were Frank Jullien of Switzerland (1897, not competing in Paris) and Konrad Stäheli of Switzerland (1898 and 1899). Stäheli was a heavy favourite to win. The Olympic event doubled as the 1900 world championship.
Competition format
The competition had each shooter fire 40 shots from the kneeling position. The target was 1 metre in diameter, with 10 scoring rings; targets were set at a distance of 300 metres. Thus, the maximum score possible was 400 points. The scores from this event were combined with the other two positions (standing and prone) to give a three-positions individual score as well as a team score.
Schedule
Date Time Round Friday, 3 August 1900Saturday, 4 August 1900Sunday, 5 August 1900 Final
Results
Each shooter fired 40 shots, for a total possible of 400 points.
Rank Shooter Nation Score Konrad Stäheli 324 Emil Kellenberger 314 Anders Peter Nielsen 314 4 Paul Van Asbroeck 308 5 Marcus Ravenswaaij 306 6 Uilke Vuurman 303 7 Franz Böckli 300 8 Lars Jørgen Madsen 299 9 Charles Paumier 297 Louis Richardet 297 11 Antonius Bouwens 296 12 Ole Sæther 293 13 Helmer Hermandsen 290 Viggo Jensen 290 15 Ole Østmo 289 16 Achille Paroche 287 17 Auguste Cavadini 286 Léon Moreaux 286 19 Henrik Sillem 281 20 Solko van den Bergh 274 21 Tom Seeberg 272 22 Laurids Jensen-Kjær 271 Maurice Lecoq 271 24 Jules Bury 269 25 Alfred Grütter 265 26 Axel Kristensen 260 27 Olaf Frydenlund 259 René Thomas 259 29 Edouard Myin 249 30 Joseph Baras 210
References
International Olympic Committee medal winners database De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "Shooting 1900". Accessed 3 March 2006. Available electronically at .