Denis Zotov Shotgun shooting athlete Date of Birth: 01.01.1990 Country: Russia

1. Denis Zotov: A Young Marksman with a Bright Future
2. Superfinal Performance
3. Heat and Competition Fatigue
4. Third-Place Finish Satisfaction
5. Junior vs. Senior Competition
6. Looking Forward to Transition

Denis Zotov: A Young Marksman with a Bright Future

Russian trap shooter Denis Zotov made history at the European Championships in Kazan by claiming the first Russian medal in the individual competition. The 20-year-old achieved a third-place finish in the junior trap event.

Superfinal Performance

Reflecting on his performance in the Superfinal, Zotov shared his insights. The Superfinal features the top male and female athletes, and juniors, who have performed exceptionally well in their respective disciplines, including trap. The peculiarity of this event lies in the spectators' use of instruments like whistles and rattles to create a noisy and distracting environment for the competitors.

Despite the unconventional nature of the competition, Zotov embraced the challenge. "I don't take this discipline seriously; it's a game in every sense of the word. I enjoy it – it's fun. I shot for enjoyment, and there's no disappointment in not winning," he said.

Heat and Competition Fatigue

Zotov acknowledged the challenging conditions during the trap final, but remained unfazed. "Such weather is normal for European Championships. It was similarly hot in Croatia last year, though some athletes complained. My British friend remarked that it's much colder in his country right now. The Spanish athletes probably felt quite comfortable in this heat," he observed.

The hot weather did impact the equipment, causing gun barrels to overheat. "Yes, the barrels heated up considerably. I even got a slight burn once," Zotov noted.

Third-Place Finish Satisfaction

Despite the challenging conditions, Zotov expressed contentment with his bronze medal. "It's a good result. Of course, I could have competed for silver or gold, but I'm also satisfied with bronze," he stated.

Junior vs. Senior Competition

Reflecting on the impressive performance of the junior team, Zotov emphasized the individual nature of the competition. "We don't discuss competitions; everyone prepares separately. The team results are based on individual performances. So, despite the team aspect, the competitions are personal," he explained.

Looking Forward to Transition

Zotov's coach has set him the goal of making significant progress as he transitions to senior competition next year. "Yes, I'm in my last year as a junior. I hope to finish it successfully. After that, I will forge my path in senior competitions," he affirmed.