Skip to main content

American Shooting Sports Shine in Tokyo Olympics

Army vet, current first lieutenant take gold for U.S. in Skeet; UK student wins in Air Rifle.

American Shooting Sports Shine in Tokyo Olympics

Gold, silver and bronze medals of the XXXII Summer Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo. (Photo by fifg/Shutterstock)

American Olympic sport shooters are claiming gold.

Olympic veteran Vincent Hancock took the gold medal with a score of 59 in the final, dropping just one target. This was Hancock’s unprecedented third trip to the top of the podium in the Men’s Skeet competition. Hancock took gold in 2008 and 2012. He competed in 2016 but didn’t place in the medal count.

Amber English matched the feat, taking gold in the Women’s Skeet competition with a score of 56 and setting an Olympic record at Japan’s Asaka Shooting Range. English missed just four targets and bested her nearest competitor’s score of 51.

English is also the first U.S. service member to medal in the Olympic games. English is a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army’s Marksmanship Training Unit and part of the Army's World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). Her path to the podium has been a steep and twisting trail, according to USA Today. English fell short of making the U.S. Olympic team for the 2012 London games and again in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her father, Mike, was a five-time national shooting champion and passed away that year.

Persistence

English stepped away from the sport in 2017 but was convinced to make another run by Hancock, who also previously served in the U.S. Army. The two had known and trained alongside one another since they were teens and have remained close.

"I couldn't be happier for her," Hancock said according to USA Today. "I love that girl like a sister. Now we both have medals around our necks."

"It sets the tone of what can be expected from USA Shooting," Hancock added. "Our athletes have been competing at a really high level for quite a few years now. I think that's because we’re a small sport, we don't get quite the recognition. But when looking at the number of medals that we win on a yearly basis, it's impressive."

Accuracy




It was actually Will Shaner who set the tone for USA Shooting. University of Kentucky's Shaner took gold and set a new record in the Men’s 10 Meter Air Rifle competition with a final round score of 251.6, just 1.2 points shy of the world record. Shaner’s feat comes on the heels of his second-place NCAA finish air rifle individual championship.

Shaner took the lead in the final in the second five-shot round, scoring at least 10.6 on each of his five shots, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. Shaner landed each of his 24 shots in the final in the 10-point ring.

"I never really thought I could win," Shaner said. "It's a big stage. There's a lot of good competition. This being my first one gives me a lot of confidence going into next World Cups."

Recommended


Just 20-years-old, Shaner is the youngest American man to compete in an Olympic rifle event.

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Destinations

First Turkey Ever: Perfect Conditions Make for a Short Hunt

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: Bass Froggin' Game Plan

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Videos

What to Know Before Going Off-Road

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Learn

Off-Road Safety Tips and Techniques

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Gear

The Right Tires for Off-Roading

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Learn

Bass Crash Course: Shallow-Water Power Lures

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Destinations

Minnesota Double Down: First Visit to New Farm Goes Perfectly

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: Bass Fishing in the Wind

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Hunting

She Kills The Biggest Bird of the Year

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: Unlock the Patterns Squarebill Crankbaits

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Learn

Tips for Cooking Over an Open Fire

With the right materials and know-how, you can construct a reliable blaze for any gathering. Follow these tips to build ...
Videos

How to Build the Perfect Campfire

Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Game & Fish App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now