Beijing - Matt Emmons was known until Friday as the American who famously squandered a gold medal by firing his final shot at the wrong target at the 2004 Olympics.
From now on, Emmons will be better known as half of a hot-shooting U.S.-Czech couple that won three, and possibly four, medals at the Beijing Olympics -- incorrigible love birds who snatched headlines from the sharpshooting China hosts.
"Shooting is a wonderful sport," Emmons said when asked if he is happy to lose the "man-who-shot-the-wrong-target" tag after he won the silver medal in a thrilling duel in the 50m rifle prone.
"The more attention shooting gets, the better. I'm known for a lot of things. Whether it's this (his wife) or the other (wrong target), it doesn't matter to me."
His wife Katerina won gold and silver medals in her events.
Read more: Gold medal winning Emmons: I want to stay Czech
Emmons, who will try to win that elusive gold medal in the 50m three-position event on Sunday, said love was the key ingredient that helped him become a better shooter.
"Anyone happy in their personal life -- it's a definite help and a positive thing," said Emmons, a shy 27-year-old who has nevertheless been hugging and kissing his wife before, during and after each of their events.
After winning on Friday, Emmons went to embrace his wife, who was moonlighting in the press box as a commentator for Czech TV.
"I wouldn't trade having Katie by my side for anything in the world," said Emmons, who calls her his "best team mate" ever.
The former Katerina Kurkova won the first gold medal of the Olympics on Saturday in the 10m air rifle and got silver on Thursday in the 50m air rifle three positions. Matt Emmons was in the front row leading the cheers for her both times.
"It's very difficult when one of us is competing to keep your mind on your own game," said Emmons, who skipped the opening ceremony last Friday night to hold his wife's nervous hand.
"The past few days have been a roller-coaster ride for both of us," he said. "I like roller-coasters. With Katie winning two medals, we've had a lot of things to do."
Emmons' famous "wrong target" shot in Athens in the finals of the three-position event, after he won the gold in the prone event, led to Katerina introducing herself in a beer garden. She had been a witness, doing Czech TV commentary, and wanted to cheer him up.
They said it was love at first sight and got married in 2007. Emmons can equal his wife's medal haul here if he can win gold on Sunday. He said there is no competing for medals.
"We're a team. The more medals we get as a team the better."
