That’s the resounding message Australia’s male and female Trap athletes issued today ahead of tomorrow’s Mixed Trap Teams event.

The Mixed Trap Teams is a new Olympic event and Australia will field two of the strongest pairings in James Willett and Laetisha Scanlan, plus Tom Grice and Penny Smith. 

Following the disappointment of missing medals in the individual men’s and women’s Trap events yesterday, the Teams reacted impressively at training today with each athlete shooting a perfect 25 of a possible 25 targets in their first practice. 

Shotgun coach Richard Sammon was delighted with their response. 

“It’s training, but they bounced back nicely from the day that we had yesterday,” said Sammon. 

“There was a little bit of disappointment obviously in not coming away and grabbing a medal. But to come back this morning, and turn up the way they have, just shows the class of the two teams.” 

Sammon said the quartet processed the individual Trap events on their return to the Olympic Village last night. 

“We all had five separate ice baths together and had a few laughs, then went and had dinner together and recapped the day. 

“They’ll use yesterday’s result to fire up their desire for success. Yesterday is only going to make this entire team even stronger. 

“Tomorrow is a new day and a new opportunity, and we are really excited about tomorrow.” 

There are 16 Mixed Teams contesting the event tomorrow and both Australian combinations have strong prospects. 

Willett and Scanlan triumphed in the Trap Mixed Teams at the 2019 World Shotgun Championships with Smith and Grice capturing the bronze medal. 

Grice and Smith won the Mixed Trap Teams at the 2017 World Shotgun Championships. 

The Mixed Teams qualifying is conducted over three rounds of 25 targets. The top two qualifying Teams will proceed to the gold medal match with the third and fourth highest scoring teams meeting in the bronze medal match. 

Australia’s other Shooting athlete in action tomorrow will be South Australia’s Katarina Kowplos, who will contest the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions. 

Kowplos, 19, has prepared for the event having contested the women’s 10m Air Rifle and the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Teams events. 

Greg Campbell