Nathan Hales wins ‘absolutely unreal’ gold with Olympic trap shooting record
During a hot day at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nathan Hales from Great Britain remained calm and collected as he broke the Olympic record in the men's trap event, securing Team GB's third gold medal of the competition.
Hales could not hold back his tears while standing on the podium as the British national anthem was played. He had kept his emotions in check during the competition, but they finally overflowed.
"I have always imagined myself in this position ever since I was a child, when I first started practicing shooting with my family," he explained. "It was a dream I always had, so to finally be here and see it happening is truly unbelievable."
The 28-year-old athlete from Chatham, Kent, set a new Olympic record by scoring 48 out of 50 at the shooting competition in Chateauroux, the capital of the French department of Indre. He defeated the silver medalist, Qi Ying from China, by four shots. Jean Pierre Brol Cárdenas from Guatemala won the bronze medal, marking the second Olympic medal in the country's history.
Hales, who is wedded to former British Olympian shooter Charlotte Kerwood, mentioned that his wife is his biggest cheerleader. "She has given me some valuable advice on the emotions and thoughts I would experience during our time here. It's wonderful to be in a sport that we both love and enjoy together," he shared.
Hales started shooting clay targets when he was just five years old, learning from his dad. By 2014, he was competing in Olympic trap shooting at the Nuthampstead Shooting Ground with the goal of making it to the Olympics. He achieved his dream when he won a gold medal with a world record at the Lonato World Cup in Italy in 2023. Hales also earned a silver medal at the world championships in Osijek, Croatia in 2022.
However, there was optimism for a podium finish in the competition due to the presence of Tokyo bronze medalist Matt Coward-Holley. Hales, competing in his first Olympics, exceeded expectations by securing a spot in the top-six final while Coward-Holley struggled during the qualification rounds.
Hales only missed one out of 25 shots in the first part of the final, putting him at the top of the rankings, just ahead of his competitor from China. As the final continued and shooters were eliminated after every five shots, Hales maintained a slight lead of one point after 35 shots. This guaranteed him an Olympic medal at that point in the competition.
"It was a close competition. I just followed my usual routine and stuck to my methods," Hales explained. "I practice sports psychology, so I focused on my breathing and believed in myself. I didn't even know it was an Olympic record until someone pointed it out."
He honored the memory of his fellow British shooter and coach, Kevin Gill. "We began this adventure side by side, but sadly we were unable to see it through together," he remarked. "I have no doubt that he would be incredibly proud. The final was an outstanding experience, and I am thrilled to have set an Olympic record and come out victorious in the Olympics."
