The scene is a familiar one now at the Olympic shooting hall: Matt and Katerina Emmons, hugging and smooching after yet another medal.

　　Matt took center stage Friday, winning the silver in the 50-meter prone rifle. That makes three medals in all this year for the husband and wife―Katy won gold and silver in her two rifle events.

　　“You can’t do much better than a gold and a silver,” Matt Emmons said. “We’re a team. The more medals we get as a team, the better. I don’t care who wins them.”

　　They met at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, after Matt squandered a big lead at the end of the three-position rifle event. He had fired at the wrong target, an unimaginable mistake, and Katy wanted to offer condolences.

　　They were married last year and have split time between his country and hers. Matt is an American; Katy is from the Czech Republic.

　　When one competes, the other is close by. After finishing second Friday to Ukraine’s Artur Ayvazian, Matt stood up and looked toward his wife, who was helping out with a Czech television broadcast. Matt raised both arms above his head in triumph, and Katy returned the gesture.

　　After the medal ceremony, the two were surrounded by photographers snapping pictures as they posed together. Is this the Olympics or a wedding reception?

　　“People who want to be international athletes, they want the limelight,” Matt Emmons said. “I think this is a little bit more than we would normally enjoy. We’re kind of quiet people.”

　　He was asked by one reporter if all this affection gives the couple an unfair advantage.

　　“Unfair?” Katy said, turning around in mock horror.

　　Matt says competing with a loved one has its drawbacks.

　　“I would not trade having Katy by my side all the time for anything in the world, but I will tell you that it is … when the other one is competing, it is very difficult to keep your mind on your own game,” he said. “Granted, at this Olympics it’s been a little easier because we don’t compete at the same time. At World Cups, it is definitely a challenge when we have to compete on the same day.”

　　In Beijing, their events have been on different days, enabling each to watch the other shoot. That’s not exactly relaxing.

　　“There’s nothing you can do,” Katy Emmons said. “You can just watch and cross your fingers, and that’s all. And just wait.”

　　A Czech flag was hanging above the shooting range behind one section of seats. It said “GO GO FOR THE GOLD MATT!”

　　“I think just anybody, when they’re happy in their personal life, that definitely helps them,” Matt Emmons said. “Depends on the person of course, but I think that is a very positive thing.”