Overview
Friedrich Schattleitner (28 September 1923 – 4 May 2016) was an Austrian competitive rifle shooter. He is best known for representing Austria at the 1968 Summer Olympics, where he competed in the 50 metre rifle, prone position discipline. Schattleitner was born in the small municipality of Kalwang in Styria, Austria.
Sporting career
Schattleitner competed internationally during an era when precision smallbore rifle disciplines were well established in Olympic shooting. At the 1968 Games he finished 35th in a field of 86 competitors in the 50 m rifle prone event. This Olympic appearance is the principal documented highlight of his sporting record.
About the 50 m rifle, prone event
The 50 m rifle, prone position is a precision smallbore event shot at a distance of 50 metres from the prone (lying down) position. Competitors use .22 calibre rifles and aim at targets with concentric scoring rings; rankings are determined by the aggregate score of a series of scored shots. The event emphasizes stability, breath control and sighting consistency.
Context and significance
As an Olympic participant, Schattleitner formed part of Austria's long tradition in marksmanship and shooting sports. His participation in 1968 placed him among a global field of skilled marksmen at a time when shooting was consolidating into the modern formats still familiar today.
Legacy
While not a medalist, Schattleitner's Olympic record preserves his name in Austria's sporting history. References to his career appear in condensed athlete listings and Olympic records. For general information on Austrian shooting sports and related athletes, see entries for national shooting federations and Olympic athlete databases such as Austrian sports shooter resources.