Athletes never find it easy to return to their sports after retiring, and Du

Li is no exception. But the Chinese shooter is in Rio, and ready for her fourth

Olympics.

The meticulous markswoman retired in 2012, but could not let go of her desire

to head back to the range, and pursue a chance to shoot for a third gold

medal.

With a calm disposition and clear mind, Du possesses all the traits common

among championship shooters. An impeccable debut on the Olympic stage made her a

household name in the sport 12 years ago, as the Chinese riflewoman blasted her

way to gold in Athens. But she faces a much bigger challenge at the Rio Games,

in the wake of two retirements.

“It is surprising to me that I can participate in another Olympics. I retired

after competing at the 2008 Games because I had to. I got married and gave birth

to a baby, and after 2012, I think I had fully accepted the idea of retirement,”

Du said.

Following her success in the 10-meter air rifle in 2004, Du topped the podium

in the 50-meter three-position event at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

But after failing to reach the final in that discipline in London four years

later, the Shandong native decided to put her trusty weapon away, only to make

one more comeback attempt, with the biggest push to do so coming from her

husband, fellow gold medalist Pang Wei.

“He really hoped that we could go to the Olympics together. When I finished

the final round of trials, and was about to get the results, he was very

nervous. It was almost confirmed that he would go, but I was not sure I would

qualify,” Du said.

After announcing her second retirement in 2012, Du did not touch her rifle

for two years, but the scrupulous sharpshooter’s comfort with China’s training

system quickly renewed her confidence.

Eight months later, following the national trials, she was bound for Brazil,

where the 34-year-old will participate in both the 10-meter air rifle, and the

50-meter three-position competition.

“This year I will compete in two different shooting events. As for me, I

think it’s unrealistic to go for gold in both events, based on my current

competitive situation,” Du said.

Du’s long road back to the Olympics has only made her tougher, and a third

gold medal in Rio would be the icing on the cake.