Free Rifle, Kneeling, 300 metres, Men

The target in this event was 1 metre in diameter with 10 scoring rings, with a black aiming mark of 60 cm in diameter. Shooters shot 40 shots from 300 metres in a kneeling position for a possible of 400 points. This event was a part of the 3-position free rifle event which was shot concurrently for individuals and teams, and like the other two elements, prone and standing, it counted as a separate event with medals being awarded accordingly. It was the only time at the Olympics that this happened.

For the first and only time, the World Championships were held concurrently with the Olympics and the Olympic Champions also became World Champions. It was the fourth staging of the World Championships, having previously been held in Lyon (France) in 1897, Turin (Italy) 1898 and Loosduinen 1899 which, since 1923 has been a district of Den Haag (Netherlands).

Konrad Stäheli of Switzerland had won the last two World Championships and was favourite to defend his title in Paris. The 1899 silver and bronze medallists, Emil Kellenberger (Switzerland) and Henrik Sillem (Netherlands), who was also the 1897 bronze medallist, were also competing, as were the 1898 French silver and bronze medallists Achille Paroche and Léon Moreaux. All the World Championship medallists since 1897 appeared in Paris with the exception of the 1897 gold and silver medallists Frank Jullien and Alcide Hirschy, both from Switzerland.

Konrad Stäheli, was in a class of his own and won the first Olympic title and with it, his third World championship title in this event. He would go on to add another seven world titles to his collection, in 1901-02 and 1910-1914, for a total of ten titles. He won four medals, including three golds in 1900, but despite his long career, appeared in just one more Olympics, at the 1906 Intercalated Games when he added a gold and silver medal to his tally.