Australia and Olympic Shooting

Australia’s first medallist in shooting was Donald MacKintosh at Paris 1900. He won the game shooting event and finished third in the live pigeon shooting. It was a long time before Australia next won a shooting medal. Patti Dench, at 52 years of age, won a bronze in the inaugural women’s sport pistol at Los Angeles 1984.

Dench was the oldest medallist of all the competitors in Los Angeles. Atlanta 1996 saw the end of an almost century-long wait for Australia’s second gold medal in shooting. Michael Diamond won the trap and Russell Mark won the double trap three days later. Deserie Huddleston won a bronze medal in the women’s double trap.

Four years later in Sydney, Diamond repeated his previous victory in the trap. Mark finished second, after a shoot-off with the eventual winner, in the double trap. Annemarie Forder added to the women’s tally of Olympic medals by finishing third in the air pistol.

At Athens 2004, Suzie Balogh, in the women’s trap, became the first Australian woman to win a gold medal in Olympic shooting. Adam Vella won a bronze medal in the men’s trap.

Olympic History

Shooting has appeared on every Olympic program except St Louis 1904 and Amsterdam 1928. The number and variety of events have changed many times over the Olympiads. From Mexico City (1968), women started competing with men in a number of Olympic shooting events. A limited number of women’s events were first included at Los Angeles 1984. Until Barcelona 1992, women were still permitted to compete in those events that were not included in their program. From Atlanta 1996, the Olympic shooting program has been segregated.

Current World Records

Click here to access the current IOC World Records (as at 22 Jun 2007)

Gold Medal Winners from the Past Three Olympic Games

Click here for a complete document of winners from Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.