Sport
5 July, 2024
Smith heads to Paris
WESTERN district athlete Penny Smith has been named in Australia’s 10-member shooting team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Smith will be one of six athletes to compete in the shotgun events in Paris (with two others competing in rifle and two in pistol).
The Australian shooters were selected for the team based on their performances in international and domestic competitions over the past six months.
Smith, currently ranked world number 11, recently secured a silver medal in the women’s trap event at the ISSF World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan with a score of 116 out of 125 targets.
She had a strong start to the final, not missing until the unlucky 13th target.
Her silver medal brought her to 11 World Cup medals to date.
Less than two weeks prior to the Baku competition, Smith won bronze at the ISSF Final Olympic Qualification Championships in Doha.
At the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Australia sent a 15-member shooting team (including Smith) but returned without a medal.
Australian shooters have won a total of 11 meals – five golds, one silver and five bronzes, in their Olympic history.
Shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be held from July 27 through to August 5 at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre.