Saturday, November 23, 2024

Olympics shooting: Great Britain’s Nathan Hales wins men’s trap gold

Must read

Great Britain’s Nathan Hales won Olympic gold by setting a new Games record in the men’s trap shooting final.

The 28-year-old hit 48 shots out of 50 to break the previous record of 43 and secure GB’s first men’s trap gold since 1968.

“I cannot quite believe it!” Hales told BBC Sport. “It is a dream come true and something I set out 10 years ago to achieve.”

Hales’ gold is Britain’s third of the Paris Games and their 11th medal overall.

China’s Qi Ying claimed silver with 44 out of 50 while Guatemala’s Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas clinched bronze.

In qualifying, Olympic debutant Hales recorded a score of 123 out of 125 from five rounds to progress joint-first in the 30-man field.

He now holds the world and Olympic records, having hit 49 out of 50 at last season’s World Cup in Italy.

The last time GB won shooting gold was at London 2012 when Peter Wilson sealed the men’s double trap title. That event has since been scrapped.

Latest article