Sergey Richter (; ; born 23 April 1989) is an Olympic

sport shooter Shooting sports is a group of competitive and recreational sporting activities involving proficiency tests of accuracy, precision and speed in shooting — the art of using ranged weapons, mainly small arms (firearms and airguns, in forms such ...

. Born in Ukraine, he represents Israel internationally. He shares the junior world record in the

10 metre air rifle 10 meter air rifle is an International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) shooting event, shot at a bullseye target over a distance of using a calibre air rifle with a maximum weight of . It is one of the ISSF sports governed in shooting spor ...

, and was the

2009 ISSF World Cup The 2009 ISSF World Cup is the twenty-fourth annual edition of the ISSF World Cup in the Olympic shooting events, governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation. Four qualification competitions are held in each event, spanning from April ...

champion. He competed on behalf of

Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics Israel competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's fifteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics. The Olympic Committee of Israel sent 37 athletes to the Games, 19 men and 18 women, to compe ...

in London, for

Israel at the 2016 Summer Olympics Israel competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. It was the nation's sixteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics. The Olympic Committee of Israel confirmed a team of 47 athletes, 22 men and 25 wom ...

in Rio de Janeiro, and for

Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics Israel competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo with its largest contingent to date − a delegation of 90 athletes, 55 men and 35 women, who competed in 15 different sports. This was almost double the previous number of 47 athletes who repre ...

in Tokyo. He won the

gold medal A gold medal is a medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture. Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have b ...

s in the 2013 European Championship and the 2022 European Championship, and was named European Champion at 10m. He won a

bronze medal A bronze medal in sports and other similar areas involving competition is a medal made of bronze awarded to the third-place finisher of contests or competitions such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The outright winner receives ...

at the

2015 European Games The 1st European Games (), also known as the 2015 European Games or Baku 2015 (), were the inaugural edition of the European Games, an international multi-sport event for athletes representing the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the Europe ...

for

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

, and the gold medal at the

2019 European Games The 2nd European Games 2019 (, ''Jeŭrapiejskija huĺni 2019''; , ''Yevropeyskiye igry 2019''), also known as the 2019 European Games or Minsk 2019 (; ), were held in Minsk, Belarus, from 21 June to 30 June 2019. The games featured 200 events in ...

for

in the Men's 10m Air Rifle. He is a nine-time Israeli air rifle champion. Richter represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics in Men's 10 metre air rifle, and came in 33rd.

Early and personal life

Richter was born in

Kharkiv Kharkiv, also known as Kharkov, is the second-largest List of cities in Ukraine, city in Ukraine.

in the

Ukrainian SSR The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, abbreviated as the Ukrainian SSR, UkrSSR, and also known as Soviet Ukraine or just Ukraine, was one of the Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republics of the Soviet Union from 1922 until 1991. ...

of the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

, immigrated with his family to

Bat Yam Bat Yam ( ) is a city on Israel's Mediterranean Sea coast, on the Central Coastal Plain just south of Tel Aviv. It is part of the Gush Dan metropolitan area and the Tel Aviv District. In , it had a population of . History British Mandate Bat Y ...

, Israel when he was a six-year-old boy in 1996, and has lived in

Rehovot Rehovot (, / ) is a city in the Central District (Israel), Central District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. In it had a population of . Etymology Israel Belkind, founder of the Bilu (movement), Bilu movement, proposed the name "Rehovot ...

and

Kfar Saba Kfar Saba ( ), officially Kfar Sava , is a List of Israeli cities, city in the Sharon plain, Sharon region, of the Central District (Israel), Central District of State of Israel, Israel. In 2019 it had a population of 110,456, making it the 16th-l ...

, Israel. He is Jewish and an Israeli citizen. Richter attended Wizo High School, in Rehovot. When his parents were young, his mother, Svetlana, was a figure skater and his father, Alexander, was a wrestler. In 2011, his father developed

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...

. He said: "It was terrible. It is impossible to describe in words how difficult it is to deal with when it is at your home... In my conversations with him, he asked me not to stop and continue in the sport, but it was very difficult for me." He is married to Natalie whom he married after the Rio Olympic Games, and he and his wife have twin girls.

Shooting career

Richter began shooting in 2002, at 13 years of age, as part of a Gadna (

Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and ...

youth corps) program. He then trained with

Hapoel Hapoel (, ) is an Israeli Jewish sports association established in 1926 by the Histadrut Labor Federation. History During the Mandate for Palestine, British Mandate of Palestine period Hapoel had a bitter rivalry with Maccabi World Union, Maccab ...

Rehovot. Richter trains at the

Herzliya Herzliya ( ; , / ) is an affluent List of Israeli cities, city in the Israeli coastal plain, central coast of Israel, at the northern part of the Tel Aviv District, known for its robust start-up and entrepreneurial culture. In it had a populatio ...

firing range, and is now a member of Maccabi

Ra'anana Ra'anana () is an affluent city in the southern Sharon, Israel, Sharon Plain of the Central District (Israel), Central District of Israel. It was founded in 1922 as an American-Jewish settlement, 1 km south of the village of Tabsur, where a ...

. He is right-handed, and his " master eye" is his right eye. He is coached by Israeli three-time Olympian

Guy Starik Guy Starik (; born May 3, 1965) is an Israeli sport shooter who has competed in four Olympics. He has won gold medals in shooting at both the European Championships and at four World Cups, and shares the world record in the 50 meter rifle prone ...

and

Yevgeni Aleinikov Yevgeni Vasilyevich Aleinikov (; 29 May 1967 – 7 December 2024) was a Russian sport shooter, specializing in the rifles event. He won the bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVI ...

. His club is Maccabi Ra'anana Shooting Club.

2003–12; Early years

Richter won a

at 20 years of age at the

men's final of the

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

, Germany. His qualification score of 599 points out of 600 was one point short of the world record, and tied the junior world record. Richter won with 701.7 points. It was only his first shot that was not perfect. Richter said after the match: “This is exciting, I did not expect to finish on the highest step of the podium. This is my fourth time in an international competition!” In the 2006 10m Air Rifle Men Junior World Championships in

Zagreb Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...

, Croatia, he came in 4th, with a score of 591. He was signed to the German shooting team Kolber that same year. In February 2010, Richter won the gold medal in the IWK Air Gun competition men's 10 metre air rifle match in Munich, Germany. In June 2010, he came in fourth in the men's 10 metre air rifle final at the 2010

International Shooting Sport Federation The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is the governing body of Shooting at the Summer Olympics, Olympic shooting events. It also regulates several ISSF shooting events, non-Olympic shooting sport events. The Federation's activities ...

(ISSF) World Cup in

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

, Serbia, missing the

by one-tenth of a point. In June 2011, he was ranked fifth in the world by the ISSF. Richter competed in the September 2011 ISSF World Cup final in the men's 10 metre air rifle. He received a two-point deduction for being late to the final, which moved him down from second and a

silver medal A silver medal, in sports and other similar areas involving competition, is a medal made of, or plated with, silver awarded to the second-place finisher, or runner-up, of contests or competitions such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, ...

, to seventh place. He won a silver medal at the 2011

Changwon Changwon (; ) is the capital and largest city of South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea (with a population of 1,025,702 ), and the 11th largest city of the South Korea, country. A port city, Changwon is bordered by Masan Bay to the south, and the ...

, South Korea, World Cup, with 597 points, becoming the first Israeli athlete to qualify for the London Olympics. In April 2012, Richter won the silver medal in the 2012 Shooting World Cup in London, in men's 10 metre air rifle. His 701.1 points were a personal record.

2012 London Olympics

Richter competed on behalf of

in London in men's 10 metre air rifle, having qualified by earning a quota place. He missed the finals by one point, coming in 9th out of 30 competitors, with 8 shooters making it into the final. After the Olympics, he planned to complete his military service, and to study

graphic design Graphic design is a profession, academic discipline and applied art that involves creating visual communications intended to transmit specific messages to social groups, with specific objectives. Graphic design is an interdisciplinary branch of ...

2013–16; European champion

In March 2013, Richter won a gold medal in the European Championship in

Odense, Denmark Odense ( , , ) is the third largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen and Aarhus) and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2025, the city proper had a population of 185,480 while Odense Municipality had a population of 210 ...

, and was named European Champion at 10 m. In April 2013, he won a silver medal at a 2013 World Cup tournament in

, South Korea, in 10m Air Rifle. In 2013 and 2014 he also won bronze medals at World Cup tournaments in

Fort Benning Fort Benning (named Fort Moore from 2023–2025) is a United States Army post in the Columbus, Georgia area. Located on Georgia's border with Alabama, Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve compone ...

, Georgia. On 16 June 2015, he took the bronze medal at the

Baku Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

, for

in the Men's 10m Air Rifle. At the 2016 Baku World Cup, Richter won a bronze medal in 10m Air Rifle individual.

2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics

Richter competed for

in Rio de Janeiro. He came in 14th out of 30 competitors in the Men's 10-meter air rifle competition with a score of 623.28 points, and coming in 15th out of 30 competitors with a score of 622.6 in the Men's 50m rifle prone competition.

2019–20; European Games champion

On 24 June 2019, Richter took the

at the

Minsk Minsk (, ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administra ...

, Belarus, for

in the Men's 10m Air Rifle. At the 2020 European Championship in

Wrocław Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...

, Poland, Richter won a bronze medal in the 10m Air Rifle individual.

2020 Tokyo Olympics (in 2021)

Richter competed for

in July 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Richter finished 27th out of 47 competitors in the Men's 10 metre air rifle with a score of 624.5.

2021–22; European championship

At the 2021 European Championship in

Osijek Osijek () is the fourth-largest city in Croatia, with a population of 96,848 in 2021. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja ...

, Croatia, Richter won a silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle individual. As of July 2021, he was ranked 8th in the world by the

(ISSF). At a World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in 2022, Richter won a silver medal in 10m Air Rifle Men. At the 2022 Changwon World Cup, he won a bronze medal in 10m Air Rifle individual and a bronze medal in Mixed Team. At the 2022

Granada Granada ( ; ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada (Spain), Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence ...

Grand Prix, he won the gold medal in 10m Air Rifle individual. In the 2022 European Championships 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team, he won the gold medal in

Hamar Hamar is a List of cities in Norway, town in Hamar Municipality in Innlandet Counties of Norway, county, Norway. Hamar is the administrative centre of Hamar Municipality. It is located in the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Hedmarken. ...

, Norway, while coming in fourth in the individual.

2023; Withdrawal from Indonesia competition

In 2023, Richter withdrew from an international competition in

Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

, after the ISSF refused to allow him to compete with any symbols representing

. His rifle is engraved with the

Israeli flag The flag of the State of Israel ( ; ) was adopted on 28 October 1948, five months after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. It consists of a white background with a blue Star of David in the centre and two horizontal blue stripes at the ...

and the letters ISR. The Israeli Shooting Association told the Indonesian organizers: "Either we participate with a flag, or all the other countries participate without a flag just like us." In order to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, athletes are required to compete in a series of four World Cup meets, of which Jakarta was the first in this cycle. Reportedly, World Cup organizers informed Richter and the Israeli federation they would only allow him to participate with his weapon if he competes with identification symbols of the ISSF or the flag of the International Olympic Committee. Richter rebuffed the ISSF and chose not to compete in the World Cup, in part stating:

I will never accept to participate in a competition without the OC Country CodeISR on my competition suit, on my personal rifle and on the results screen…I start the most important year on the way to Paris, when my opponents take a professional advantage over me due to political problems. If the Olympic movement, which advocates the existence of sports without distinctions of nationality, religion, race and sex, does not support its ideology, then what is its value? I don't understand how the state is allowed to organize some sort of competition with a national identity restriction. If there was a competition in Israel, and we boycotted some country - oh my - all the athletes would stand up and go out in a protest.

At the world championships in 2023 in Baku, Richter came in 4th in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team, and 17th in the 10m Air Rifle Men. At the 2023 European Championship in

Tallinn Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...

, Estonia, Richter won a silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team, and came in 4th in the individual. At the 2023 Rio de Janeiro World Cup, he won a bronze medal in 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team. At the 2023 Cairo World Cup, he came in 4th in 10m Air Rifle individual.

2024–present; Paris Olympics

At the 2024 Ruse,

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

Grand Prix, he won the silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle individual. As of June 2024, Richter was a nine-time Israeli air rifle champion. Richter represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics in Men's 10 metre air rifle. He ranked 13th in the Olympic rankings prior to the competition. He came in 33rd with a score of 626.4.

Current world record in 10 m air rifle

References

External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rikhter, Sergey 1989 births Living people Citizens of Israel through Law of Return European Games bronze medalists for Israel European Games medalists in shooting European Games gold medalists for Israel Israeli male sport shooters Jewish Israeli sportspeople Israeli people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent Jewish sport shooters Olympic shooters for Israel People from Bat Yam Sportspeople from Kfar Saba Shooters at the 2012 Summer Olympics Shooters at the 2016 Summer Olympics Shooters at the 2015 European Games Shooters at the 2019 European Games Shooters at the 2020 Summer Olympics Shooters at the 2023 European Games Shooters at the 2024 Summer Olympics Sportspeople from Kharkiv Sportspeople from Rehovot Sportspeople from Tel Aviv District Ukrainian emigrants to Israel Jewish Ukrainian sportspeople 21st-century Israeli sportsmen