# First Olympic Gold awarded **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 9, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421 "2008-08-09T17:02:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/1 "2008-08-09T17:02:27Z")
The first Gold Medal awarded in the 2008 Olympics has gone to Czech 10m air-rifle shooter Katerina Emmons. Congratulations, Mrs. Emmons! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/2 "2008-08-09T17:05:34Z")
I thought the first Gold was Chen Xiexia’s in the 48kg weightlifting competition. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/3 "2008-08-09T17:08:08Z")
[QUOTE=cckerberos] I thought the first Gold was Chen Xiexia’s in the 48kg weightlifting competition. [/QUOTE] [This](http://www.foxsports.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24152374-5014104,00.html) says she is the first. > [@](#): > > KATERINA Emmons won the first gold medal of the Olympic Games in Beijing, the Czech winning the women’s 10m air rifle. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/4 "2008-08-09T17:11:58Z")
Ah, okay. I take it they’ve just started showing this morning’s events in the US? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/5 "2008-08-09T17:18:15Z")
Funny, I ALWAYS hit the target with my “air” rifle. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/6 "2008-08-09T17:22:38Z")
[QUOTE=cckerberos] Ah, okay. I take it they’ve just started showing this morning’s events in the US? [/QUOTE] NBC show _guns?_ :eek: Just reading the news. Women’s Beach Volleyball is on CBC now. USA vs The Netherlands. The American station has Women’s Volleyball USA vs. Japan. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/7 "2008-08-09T17:27:28Z")
The women beach volleyball players are umm in really good shape. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/8 "2008-08-09T17:29:25Z")
[QUOTE=gravitycrash] The women beach volleyball players are umm in really good shape. [/QUOTE] Yep. Nice functional uniforms too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/9 "2008-08-09T18:05:47Z")
[NBC Olympics](http://www.nbcolympics.com) does have the competition available to watch on demand. Nice to be able to see some of the non marquee events. The shooting competition that is. I don’t think anyone will complain about the lack of beach volleyball being broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/10 "2008-08-09T18:13:05Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] [NBC Olympics](http://www.nbcolympics.com) does have the competition available to watch on demand. [/quote] Thanks for the link! 🙂 I have to disagree on the Women’s Beach Volleyball though. I haven’t really played volleyball since jr. high, but I think it’s fun to watch. CBC went to boxing after the volleyball, so I’m watching USA vs. Japan now. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/11 "2008-08-10T06:37:35Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] The first Gold Medal awarded in the 2008 Olympics has gone to Czech 10m air-rifle shooter Katerina Emmons. [/QUOTE] OK…were these targets a whole hell of a lot smaller than they looked? The air rifles a whole lot less accurate? It seems to me that ANYBODY with a bit of rifle experience should be able to pick up an off the shelf Ruger 22/10 and hit a couple of bullseyes at 10M. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/12 "2008-08-10T07:29:39Z")
Ha ha, at least one CCTV (the national Chinese TV network) station has been reporting that China got the first medal. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/13 "2008-08-10T11:23:57Z")
[QUOTE=Windwalker] Ha ha, at least one CCTV (the national Chinese TV network) station has been reporting that China got the first medal. [/QUOTE] I suspect the issue may be: first medal awarded (actually hung around a neck) vs. first medal won (the competition completed, the results final). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/14 "2008-08-10T18:15:55Z")
[QUOTE=Cyberhwk] OK…were these targets a whole hell of a lot smaller than they looked? The air rifles a whole lot less accurate? [/QUOTE] Unfortunately I’ve discovered that NBC videos will not play on Safari, Firefox or Opera. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/15 "2008-08-10T18:46:18Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] Unfortunately I’ve discovered that NBC videos will not play on Safari, Firefox or Opera. ☹ [/QUOTE] ??? I’m playing them on Firefox. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/16 "2008-08-10T22:25:45Z")
[QUOTE=Cyberhwk] OK…were these targets a whole hell of a lot smaller than they looked? The air rifles a whole lot less accurate? It seems to me that ANYBODY with a bit of rifle experience should be able to pick up an off the shelf Ruger 22/10 and hit a couple of bullseyes at 10M. 😕 [/QUOTE] In Olympic air rifle shooting, the target is indeed very small: 45.5 millimeters: [http://www.nbcolympics.com/shooting/insidethissport/field/newsid=101848.html#field+play+rifle](http://www.nbcolympics.com/shooting/insidethissport/field/newsid=101848.html#field+play+rifle) Obviously it would make no sense to have a sport in which most of the top competitors could be expected to make a perfect score. Ed ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/17 "2008-08-11T00:57:00Z")
[QUOTE=suranyi] In Olympic air rifle shooting, the target is indeed very small: 45.5 millimeters: [http://www.nbcolympics.com/shooting/insidethissport/field/newsid=101848.html#field+play+rifle](http://www.nbcolympics.com/shooting/insidethissport/field/newsid=101848.html#field+play+rifle) Obviously it would make no sense to have a sport in which most of the top competitors could be expected to make a perfect score. Ed [/QUOTE] I recall from another discussion that the 10 is the size if a pencil lead. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/18 "2008-08-11T01:26:13Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] ??? I’m playing them on Firefox. [/QUOTE] This time instead of the text being superimposed on the rest of the article a separate window opened. I got this message (my emphasis): > [@](#): > > Video is currently supported on the following browsers: > Internet Explorer 6, 7 for Windows > (Vista, XP SP2 or greater and 2003) > Firefox 1.5, 2, 3 for Windows > (Vista, XP SP2 or greater and 2003) > **Firefox** 1.5, 2, 3 for Mac > (OS 10.4.8 or greater, **Intel only** ) > **Safari** 2 & 3 for Mac > (OS 10.4.8 or greater, **Intel only** ) My computer was made the year before they started using the Intel chip. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/19 "2008-08-11T08:09:30Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] I recall from another discussion that the 10 is the size if a pencil lead. [/QUOTE] Holy shit. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-olympic-gold-awarded/459421/20 "2008-08-11T13:50:03Z")
[QUOTE=suranyi] In Olympic air rifle shooting, the target is indeed very small: 45.5 millimeters. [/QUOTE] Converting that for those who use Neanderthal forms of measurement, that’s 4.55 centimeters, which converts at 2.54 centimeters per inch, meaning we are talking a target of 1.8 inches across. Call it not quite the length of your thumb. With ten rings on it. :eek: