Olympics Picks Shooter as First Torchbearer of 2020 Games

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Anna Korakaki. Source: ISSF-Sports.org

(Correction: Corrects headline and article to remove reference to historical first.)

TheGunBlog.ca — The first torchbearer for this year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo will be a shooter.

The Hellenic Olympic Committee unanimously selected Greece’s Anna Korakaki, an Olympic pistol gold medalist, for the ceremonial role leading to this year’s games, Olympic.org said today.

Harding: ‘Awesome!’

“Love this! Congratulations Anna! 🎉” Allan Harding, a three-time Canadian national pistol champion, said on Twitter. “First time in history a female athlete will be the first Torchbearer… and she’s a shooter! Awesome!”

Kiejko 2020

Lynda Kiejko won Canada’s only spot to compete in shooting in this year’s Olympics, the second time in a row she has qualified for the summer games.

Lynda Kiejko Wins Canada’s Only Shooting Spot for 2020 Olympics

“I shot my first and only World Cup final with her,” Kiejko told TheGunBlog.ca today. “I think it’s fantastic that the HOC has honoured her.”

Trudeau Contrast

In contrast to heads of government who celebrate their top athletes, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is working to kill sport shooting.

He’s preparing laws to end Harding’s and Kiejko’s athletic careers by making handgun ownership a crime for adults with a federal firearm licence.

He also plans mass rifle confiscations.

https://twitter.com/olympicchannel/status/1225734162017144833

‘Extremely Honoured, Extremely Moved!’

Korakaki won gold in 25-metre .22 LR pistol and bronze in 10-metre air pistol at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

She will be the first to carry the flame after it is lit in Athens on March 12, en route to Tokyo.

“Extremely honoured, extremely moved!” Korakaki said on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8PVuYgHQif/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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