Shooting & The Olympic Program
At the Olympic Games there are 15 events: six for women and nine for men. The athletes are divided into shotgun, rifle and pistol disciplines.
The Olympic Games include the following shooting competitions on the program:
Pistol
• Men's 10m Air Pistol
• Women's 10m Air Pistol
• Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
• Women's 25m Sport Pistol
• Men's 50m Free Pistol
Rifle
• Men's 10m Air Rifle
• 10m air rifle – Women
• 50m rifle 3 positions – Men
• 50m rifle 3 positions – Women
• 50m rifle prone – Men
Shotgun
• Skeet – Men
• Skeet – Women
• Trap – Men
• Trap – Women
• Double trap – Men
Click here to view an animated tutorial for the sport of shooting.
Olympic Quota Slots
To qualify athletes for the Olympic Games, shooters worldwide must secure Olympic quota slots that determine how many competitors from each nation can be sent to the Olympics.
Making the U.S. Olympic Team
For many athletes the Olympic Games are an ideal. We see it on television. We read about it in the papers. We idolize its heroes. But that is where it often ends.
In the sport of shooting, making the jump from firearm safety to an Olympic hopeful may seem like a long shot, but as the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of shooting, it is USA Shooting’s mission to share the sport with interested individuals and groups throughout the U.S.
From becoming a member of USA Shooting to honing your shooting skills to a specific discipline, the sport can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
Below is a brief explanation of the steps required to make the U.S. Olympic Team. This is a short listing, and further detail will be needed to comply with team selection regulations. Visit the USA Shooting Policies and Procedures for more information.
• Shoot in a preliminary tryout (PTO) sponsored by USA Shooting, and fire a minimum score, which has been established in each event. Only members can participate and access the regional event listing for the PTO nearest them.
• Athletes attaining the minimum score in their event will receive an invitation to participate in the USA Shooting National Championships (USANC), which is the first step for selection to either the National Team (NT) or National Development Team (NDT). Additionally, there are at least two team selection matches each year held in the spring and fall. The USANC can also be used as a team selection match.
• Once a shooter is named to the National Team, he/she must still qualify to serve on international squads that travel around the world. Beyond the World Cup and World Cup Finals, there are many international matches that run on a four-year sequence beginning the season following the Olympic Games (2004-2008, 2009-2012, etc.).
The competitions during the first year include the Championships of the Americas (CAT) and the World Clay Target Championships. The second year of the cycle consists of the prestigious World Shooting Championships. The Pan American Games and the World Clay Target Championships comprise the events of the third year, with the cycle ending in the fourth year with the Olympic Games.
So what are you waiting for? Now that you know what to do, start shooting! One day you may be the next Olympic idol, standing on the podium of the world’s biggest stage.
