SHOOTING: Laetisha Scanlan has an eye for the big moments.

With a cool and calm persona the 25-year-old soaks up all the pressure and wears down her opponents as if she has been competing on the world stage for decades.

Having started trap shooting in 2005, Scanlan won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the women’s pair to announce herself onto the world shooting scene.

Strong performances at World Cup events followed and she would go on to stand on top of the Commonwealth Games podium for a second time when she won the individual event in Glasgow.

With a quota place on the line she claimed silver at the World Cup event in Acapulco, Mexico in early 2015 to ensure Australia would have two shooters in the women’s trap competition for the Rio 2016 Games.

Most recently she made the six-competitor final of an 89-strong field at the World Championships where she would eventually finish fifth.

Although the result was her best ever at a World Championships, Scanlan knows she has what it takes to beat the best.

“I was really happy I made the final which is very hard as there are so many girls competing,” said Scanlan.

“I had a disappointing final which I am usually good at though and missed out on an opportunity to shoot in the medal matches.

“You have to be happy with a fifth at a World Championships though and it is a really good indication of where I am at heading into next year.”

Such has been the success that Scanlan has achieved in 2015 she has now been invited to the World Cup Final in Cyprus.

“The event is certainly special as it is invitation only, with only the top 12 girls, based on the results throughout the year, getting invited.

“It’s a little different as you are only competing against 11 others but I am definitely aiming for a medal there.”

Cyprus is a regular on the shooting circuit and Scanlan believes the range suits her well for a positive finish.

“I’ve been to Cyprus three times this year and I know what to expect.

“It will definitely be hard fought because of the calibre of shooters but I am quietly confident leading in.”

With 2015 almost in the books, next year brings with it what the past three years of hard work have been building towards.

“I’ve had a four year plan with Rio 2016 being the ultimate goal and the results from the past two years have helped me get closer to achieving that.

“I’m confident heading into next year’s qualifiers and I’m really looking forward to getting the chance to make the Australian Olympic Team.”

This confidence is born out of Scanlan’s strong self-belief and her ability to handle the big moments in her stride.

“I’ve put in a lot of time and commitment into getting to that next level.

“Shooting is a mental game and I’m fortunate enough that pressure doesn’t really phase me.

“I stick to my routine that is familiar to me. I know that if I continue to do that I can reduce my heart rate, calm myself and shoot better.”

It is this ability to focus when others may feel the pinch that has Scanlan confident of a strong debut Olympic campaign.

“It would be a lifelong dream to make the Olympic Games but I wouldn’t be going there just to participate, obviously I would want a medal.

“At the moment I feel that I have a really good chance to try and bring home a medal for Australia.

“It will all come down to whether I can pull out the best performance of my career on the day.”

For Scanlan to win an Olympic medal she first has to make it there.

Scanlan will take on Australia’s finest women’s trap shooters in the National Championships and an Australian Cup in early 2016.

“There will likely be five or six girls competing in the events and we will need to shoot 71 out of 75 as a minimum and win the event to be selected.

“If no one does that then a panel will select the athletes that have had the best recent results.”

The World Cup Final runs from October 15- 21 with Scanlan competing on October 19.

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au