SHOOTING: Australian Double Trap shooter James Willett has defeated world number one Mosin Vasily of the Russian Federation to win Gold in a nail-biting contest at the 2016 ISSF World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

April has been quite a ride for the young New South Welshman, seeing Willett selected as a member of the 2016 Australian Olympic Team and named as Shooting Australia's Male Shooter of the Year and Athlete of the Year. 

Willett's record in 2016 includes Gold at the Oceania Championships in Sydney, Bronze at the Junior World Cup in Suhl, and most recently Bronze at the World Cup in Cyprus.

“Yes, it looks like I’m peaking at the right moment,” said Willett when asked about his second consecutive World Cup medal. “I only started shooting Double Trap in 2014, and it feels great to win some medals and be on top of the podium.”

Getting the first chance to test out the venue where he will make his Olympic debut at in August, Willett was impressed. 

“The range here at the Olympic venue is great. I think it will be a great venue for the Games, the weather is good, the targets are good, everything is good. It should be great!” 

Willett's focus will now turn to the next World Cup event where he will be looking to win his third straight medal against the world's best shooters. 

“I will definitely be in Baku, I’ll just try to shoot at as many competitions as possible in the lead up to the Olympics.” He concluded.

Catherine Skinner and Laetisha Scanlan both made the final of the women's trap before finishing fifth and sixth respectively, while in the men's event Adam Vella missed the final in a shoot-off to claim 13th in the trap with Michael Diamond finishing 21st. 

Daniel Repacholi claimed 51st in the 50m pistol and 61st in the 10m air pistol.

Shooting Australia and AOC