At the ISSF World Cup 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Australian shooter James Willett clinched the gold medal in the men’s trap shooting event, while Penny Smith settled for silver in the women’s competition. Willett, a seasoned two-time Olympian and gold medalist in the mixed trap pairs event at the 2019 World Championships, showcased his prowess by finishing fifth in the qualifiers and shooting 121 in the qualifying round to earn a spot in the finals. Despite a slow start in the medal round, Willett elevated his performance to secure the top spot on the podium with a remarkable score of 46, missing just one shot out of 30 in the final six series. This victory marked Willett’s first individual gold at the ISSF World Cup since Acapulco 2019, with Slovakia’s Filip Marinov and Guatemala’s Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas claiming the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In the women’s trap event, 29-year-old Penny Smith, who placed sixth in the women’s trap competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, kicked off her campaign in Baku by leading the qualifiers with an impressive score of 116. Smith started the final strong but a setback in the fifth series, where she only hit two out of five shots, cost her the lead and allowed Lebanon’s Bassil Ray to overtake her. Ray secured the gold medal with a score of 44, while Smith settled for silver with a total of 40. Italy’s Erica Sessa rounded out the podium with a bronze medal. Smith’s silver in Baku marked her 11th medal at the ISSF World Cup, including six golds, three silvers, and two bronze medals, showcasing her consistency and skill in the sport.