BBC Scotland at the Olympics

Image source, Getty Images

By Lewis Coombes

BBC Sport in Chateauroux

Britain's Seonaid McIntosh missed out on qualification for the women's 10m air rifle final after her rifle malfunctioned during the warm-up.

Her father Donald, who is her coach, set about fixing the gun, armed with a tool box, with minutes until the competition’s start.

McIntosh scored 624.5 after her 60 shots, finishing 37th and did not progress to tomorrow’s final.

Hyojin Ban from South Korea top scored with 634.5, a new Olympic qualifying record.

McIntosh told BBC Sport: “It’s not been my day. Immediately I knew there was something wrong. The two sights weren’t lining up.

“We bought a spare gun for situations like this. So we ran and got that gun. A lot of thoughts all at once.. “How do we fix it? How fast can I fix it? While trying to stay calm and not get phased by it.”

The issue is understood to have been related to the gun’s barrel, which was completely replaced.

While the rest of the field started the competition, Seonaid was a delayed entry allowed additional time for practice, before eventually re-joining the field.

The 28-year-old showed great composure under the additional pressure, clearly seen to be relying on breathing techniques to stay calm.

She added: “I’m disappointed by the result. But I did work really hard and had to work extra hard because of all the big problems at the start. I did my best and that’s all I can really ask of myself, I guess.

“I had a look at the sight afterwards and there’s a big crack in it. I’m thinking when it’s gone into the armoury it’s fallen over or something.

“I’ll be a bit more cautious with my 50m gun, maybe take the sights off at night-time and things and make sure everything is packed safely.

“At least it’s this time and not my last competition.”

McIntosh returns next week for her favoured event – 50m rifle three positions – in which she is world number one.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland in Paris

Seonaid McIntosh could be forgiven for thinking the Olympic gods are conspiring against her in Paris.

The Scot failed to progress beyond the opening round in the 10m individual competition in Chateauroux on Sunday morning - and a rifle malfunction in the warm-up did little to help her cause.

Her coach - her father Donald - arrived armed with a tool box to fix the gun with just minutes until the competition started.

The issue is understood to have been related to the gun’s barrel, which was completely replaced.

While her rivals started the competition, McIntosh was a delayed entry allowed additional time for practice, before eventually re-joining the field.

The 28-year-old showed great composure under the additional pressure and was seen to be relying on breathing techniques to stay calm.

She scored 624.5 after her 60 shots to finish 37th and did not progress to Monday's final.

McIntosh also failed to make it beyond the fist stage of Saturday's 10m mixed team event - but make no mistake, she remains one of the best hopes of a Scottish gold at this Games.

Anything gained in the 10m events would have been a bonus for the Scot - the real business for her comes in the women's 50m three position rifle later in the week, an event where she is the world champion and world number one.

Richard Winton at Paris La Defense Arena
BBC Sport Scotland

Duncan Scott missed out on his first chance to burnish his status as Britain's most decorated Olympic swimmer after Team GB finished fifth in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay.

The 27-year-old from Alloa swam the third leg but was unable to retrieve the damage done by Britain finishing the opening leg in last place.

Scott will have further to add to his tally in the 200m freestyle, the 200m individual medley and the 4x200m freestyle relay later in the meet.

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland in Paris

It wasn’t to be for Keanna MacInnes in the women’s 100m butterfly semi-finals.

The 22-year-old, out in lane eight, came in just slower than the Scottish record she set in the heats, touching in 58:11 to finish in eighth place.

Keanna MacInnes will be happy with her morning's work.

She successfully navigated her way through the women's 100m butterfly heats.

The 22-year-old's time of 57.90 seconds not only saw her squeak through to tonight's semi final, it also represented a PB and a Scottish record - good work all round.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland in Paris

While it wasn't to be for Seonaid McIntosh in the 10m Air Rifle mixed team event on Saturday, this remains an Olympics that could yet yield plenty for the Scot.

McIntosh and partner Michael Bargeron were unable to progress beyond the qualification stage, but while she may be disappointed she was far from dispirited.

“It wasn't my best shooting ever, but not my worst either – so happy with it," she said.

“We went in thinking nothing major was going to happen and saw it as a bit of a warm-up for both of us. Hopefully, it’s helped us get a bit of the nerves out."

A world champion and world number one at that, McIntosh is strongly fancied to be challenging for top spot on the podium - and that would certainly be the perfect way to banish any blues from her opening outing.