Paris 2024 Olympics: Catherine Skinner to lead Australian shooting team
Rio 2016 Olympic champion trap shooter Catherine Skinner is among the 10 athletes selected for the Australian shooting team at the Paris 2024 Olympics by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) in Brisbane on Thursday.
The Australian shooters were selected for the Paris 2024 team based on their performances in international and domestic competitions over the past six months.
After missing the Tokyo Olympics due to a loss in selection trials, Skinner is set to compete in her second Games. She enters the marquee event with momentum, having secured a bronze medal at the Lonato Shotgun World Cup earlier this month.
The 10-member Australian Olympic shooting team features a seasoned squad, with men’s skeet shooter Joshua Bell being the only one making his Olympic debut.
World No. 2 men’s trap shooter James Willett, who won the gold medal at the Baku World Cup in May, returns for his third Olympics.
Tokyo Olympian Penny Smith, silver medallist at the Baku World Cup, skeet shooter Aislin Jones and men’s trap shooter Mitchell Iles return for their second Games.
While six shooters will represent Australia in shotgun events at Paris 2024, two each have been named for the pistol and rifle events.
Dane Sampson will return for his fourth Olympics while Jack Rossiter will compete at his third. Both athletes will compete in the 10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3 positions.
In the pistol events, Elena Galiabovitch will make her third appearance, with Tokyo Olympian Sergei Evglevski named to his second Olympic team.
At the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Australia sent a 15-member shooting team but returned without a medal.
Australian shooters have won a total of 11 medals - five golds, one silver and five bronzes in their Olympic history.
Shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be held from July 27 to August 5 at the Châteauroux Shooting Centre.
Australia’s shooting team for Paris 2024 Olympics
- Shotgun: Catherine Skinner, James Willett, Penny Smith, Aislin Jones, Mitchell Iles, Joshua Bell
- Rifle: Dane Sampson, Jack Rossiter
- Pistol: Elena Galiabovitch, Sergei Evglevski