By Brittany Nelson, USAS Public Relations & Communications Supervisor
CHATEAUROUX, France (Aug. 14, 2024) – Vincent Hancock, of Eatonton, Georgia, and Austen Smith, of Keller, Texas, made historical past on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games by successful the very first silver Olympic medal in Combined Group Skeet on the Chateauroux Capturing Rage in France Aug. 5.
Combined Group Skeet made its Olympic debut at Paris 2024 and Combined Group Entice made its debut in Tokyo 2020. Hancock and Smith aren’t any strangers to the occasion, in reality they’re the 2023 world champions in Combined Skeet Group.
“It was numerous enjoyable,” stated Hancock, a five-time Olympic medalist. “This was the occasion I used to be trying ahead to essentially the most. We have now received each competitors we’ve been to (on this occasion). Understanding that you’re competing with any person that’s pretty much as good as she is, there was little question in my thoughts that we have been going to be within the gold and silver medal match.”
The duo shot an total mixed qualification rating of 148. Smith’s rating was 73 and Hancock’s was 75, giving them a second place end total. Their second place end within the qualification spherical landed them a spot within the gold medal match. The duo fell only one goal in need of the gold medal ending with a finals rating of 44. Italy earned gold with a rating of 45. View official outcomes right here.
The Combined Group Skeet silver medal was the second medal each Hancock and Smith earned in Paris. Hancock earned a gold medal in Males’s Skeet and made historical past by changing into the sixth Olympian ever to win 4 gold medals in the identical occasion. He’s the primary capturing Olympian to perform this feat. He received gold in Males’s Skeet in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Tokyo 2020.
Smith earned her very first Olympic medal in Ladies’s Skeet. She took house bronze by beating Vanessa Hockova, of Slovakia, who positioned fourth.
“It’s a dream come true to come back house with two medals,” stated Smith, who has over 20 worldwide medals. “To be trustworthy, simply coming house with one was a protracted shot in my thoughts. There have been some powerful opponents on the market so coming house with two I couldn’t have even imagined it.”
Hancock commented that there was by no means any doubt in his thoughts that Smith can be coming house with some {hardware}. Hancock is definitely Smith’s coach in addition to Conner Prince’s coach. Prince earned his first Olympic medal in Males’s Skeet at Paris 2024. Hancock coaches the 2 skeet shooters at Northlake Capturing Sports activities in Northlake Texas, a facility he co-owns.
Smith talked about that competing in Combined Group Skeet with Hancock was no completely different than training again house in Texas.
“Actually it’s sort of like being at house,” stated Smith. “We practice collectively lots, and it’s an honor to shoot with him. I’ve appeared as much as him my total capturing profession. It’s a dream.”
Hancock is definitely making his mark on this planet of capturing sports activities and his 5 Olympic medals are good proof of that. Hancock hopes to unfold the game of capturing and assist develop curiosity within the sport.
“Most individuals take into consideration legacy as a numbers sport, what number of medals you have got received,” stated Hancock, a four-time world champion. “To me that’s not what you create as a legacy, it’s how can I influence folks in a constructive course. Sure, I helped (Smith and Prince) get their begin and developed them as greatest I might, however they’re athletes on their very own. With the ability to educate others and watch them develop and be themselves that’s the legacy I wish to go away behind and what I can do to develop my sport.”
Hancock and Smith’s silver medal introduced USA Capturing’s last Olympic Medal rely of the Paris 2024 Sport to 5. See medals beneath:
Sagen Maddalena: Silver, Ladies’s 50m Smallbore Rifle
Vincent Hancock: Gold, Males’s Skeet
Conner Prince: Silver, Males’s Skeet
Austen Smith: Bronze, Ladies’s Skeet
Vincent Hancock and Austen Smith: Silver, Combined Group Skeet
Observe @USAShooting on Instagram, Fb, and X to be taught all about USA Capturing and their ends in Paris 2024.
