Nathan Hales: Olympic Champion!

Nathan Hales: Olympic Champion!

Congratulations to Great Britain’s Nathan Hales for an outstanding performance, setting a new Olympic record on his way to gold in the men’s trap competition at the Paris Games on July 30th, 2024.

Nathan Hales claimed his rightful place at the top of the Olympic Men’s Trap podium, shooting an Olympic record of 48 out of 50 to secure the gold medal. The 28-year-old from Chatham, Kent, performed exceptionally from the start, ending two days of qualifying rounds on 123/125 and tied for first place. After a shoot-off, he secured the number two bib. In the final, Nathan faced tough competition from Qi Ying of China, James Willett of Australia, Rickard Levin-Andersson of Sweden, Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas of Guatemala, and Derrick Mein of the USA.

Early misses from several competitors gave Nathan an early lead, which he maintained with exceptional composure, straighting rounds and leading the group. Despite a miss on his 16th target, Nathan's consistent performance allowed him to retain his position at the top.

Nathan's journey through the final rounds was intense, with both Qi Ying and Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas close on his heels. However, Nathan's skill and determination saw him stay ahead, ultimately securing his victory with a final score of 48/50, smashing the Olympic record.

Nathan, visibly moved on the podium as the national anthem played, said, "Being in this position is something I have dreamed of since I started shooting as a kid. To be able to come here and actually see it through to the end is absolutely unreal. I just stuck to my routine and followed my process."

Nathan credited his wife, former GB Olympian shooter Charlotte Kerwood, as his greatest supporter. “She’s been able to share some very helpful insights into the thoughts and feelings I was going to be going through while we were here… it’s great being in a sport that we both enjoy together,” he said.

Nathan's remarkable achievements were supported by his trusted Beretta shotgun and his SWATCOM headset, ensuring optimal performance throughout the competition.

Nathan began clay shooting at the age of five with his father and transitioned to Olympic trap at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground in 2014. He won gold in trap with a world record at the World Cup in Lonato, Italy, in 2023 and secured a silver medal at the World Championships in Croatia in 2022.

"I've enjoyed every second, lots of nerves, but the qualifications and finals were great. I just tried to keep everything as we do in training and not focus on what everyone around me was doing. It’s been amazing to have everyone at home able to watch through the BBC, but I tried not to think about it and keep my composure! The GB fans were the loudest in the crowd, it’s great to have such strong support from everyone here and at home. I started this journey through British Shooting’s Target Tokyo Programme and have worked my way through the ranks of the Performance Pathway, the whole programme has been a huge help. British Shooting, UK Sport, and The National Lottery have been a massive support through this entire journey,” Nathan shared post-match.

The final podium:

• Gold: Nathan Hales, GBR
• Silver: Qi Ying, China
• Bronze: Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas, Guatemala

Matthew Coward-Holley also represented Great Britain in the Men’s Trap event. Despite his strong efforts, his score of 117/125 was not enough to advance to the final in what was a very high-scoring qualification series.

Discover more about Olympic shooting disciplines at britishshooting.co.uk.

Image credit thanks to:

British Shooting & Donald McIntosh