Nathan Hales Breaks Record, Secures Olympic Gold

Nathan Hales of Great Britain won Olympic gold in the men’s trap shooting final at the 2024 Paris Games, setting a new Olympic record by hitting 48 out of 50 targets. This achievement not only earned Hales the gold medal but also marked GB’s first men’s trap gold since 1968. The previous record was 43 hits. The 28-year-old shooter expressed his disbelief and excitement, telling BBC Sport, “I cannot quite believe it! It is a dream come true and something I set out 10 years ago to achieve.”

Hales’ victory adds to Britain’s tally, which now includes three gold medals and eleven overall medals at these Games. China’s Qi Ying clinched the silver medal in the men’s trap shooting final by scoring 44 out of 50 targets, demonstrating impressive skill and consistency. Guatemala’s Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas earned the bronze medal with a notable performance, rounding out the top three with a strong showing in the competition.

Nathan Hales excelled in qualifying, achieving a score of 123 out of 125 across five rounds which placed him joint-first among the 30 competitors. In addition to his Olympic success, Hales also holds the world record, having hit 49 out of 50 targets at the World Cup in Italy last season. The last time GB won shooting gold was at London 2012 with Peter Wilson in the men’s double trap, a now-discontinued event.