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Olympics 2024: Nathan Hales wins gold in trap shooting

PARIS -- Team GB's Nathan Hales won gold in the men's trap shooting on Tuesday, breaking the Olympic record in the event and almost matching his own world record.

The 28-year-old from Rocheter in Kent made 48 of his 50 shots -- just one shy of his world record of 49 shots made. China's Ying Qi won silver with 44 shots made, while Guatemala's Jean Pierre Brol CardenasJean Pierre Brol Cardenas won bronze with 35 shots made.

When Hales shoots, he rarely ever misses. Incredibly, he missed just four shots in the entire competition, having made 123 out of 125 shots in qualifying.

"I just try and keep everything as we always do and treat it exactly the same way I treat finals in training," Hales said.

"I just push through and keep focused on what I'm doing, not on what other athletes are doing."

It can be difficult to hold your nerve at an Olympic Games. It is Hales' debut. But he revealed afterwards that he had some guidance from his girlfriend, Charlotte Kerwood, who competed at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

"The whole way through she was giving me thoughts and feelings, what you'd hear or not hear from the crowd, the whole experience. She's run through it with me which has been a great help," Hales said.

It is Britain's third gold medal of the Games after Team Eventing (equestrian) and Tom Pidcock (mountain biking) secured a pair of titles on Monday. It is GB's 11th medal overall.

Team GB are aiming for at least 50 medals from these Games, with a dream target of 70, which would be the country's best-ever at an Olympic Games.