Champion trap shooter James Willett has been selected for his third consecutive Olympic Games, this time for the Paris Olympics from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
He was one of 10 shooters selected for the Australian Olympic Team for Paris, with the team being announced at Brisbane’s International Shooting Centre last Thursday.
“Obviously I’m really happy to be selected for my third Olympics. Obviously it’s great to have the opportunity to represent Australia again,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
The 28-year-old Yarrawonga-born Willett will leave for overseas this Saturday.
His trip will include a week’s training camp in Italy from July 15 and team members before departing for Paris on July 22.
Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 will be the big two team and individual shooting events for the Australians, at a satellite village in Chateauroux, a three-hour drive from France’s capital.
Willett, the world number 2 ranked trap shooter, will compete in the field of 30, against the best competitors from many countries.
“Italy is probably the strongest, and Czech Republic, Croatia and Great Britain are also very strong,” he said.
The experienced campaigner is in very good form. He knows the significance and toughness of the Olympics and can contest the Paris Olympics with plenty of confidence.
Willett’s two previous Olympic Games were in 2016, in Rio and Tokyo’s 2020 games. In 2016 he finished fifth in Double Trap; in 2020 competed in Trap, Team and Mixed with Laetisha Scanlan, finishing 7 th in Mixed and 21 st in Men.
He achieved success in other shooting competitions, including winning a Gold Medal in Trap Mixed at the 2019 World Shooting Championships. He also secured Gold in the Men’s Trap event at the 2024 ISSF World Cup in Baku; won Bronze at the Trap World Cup round in Morocco.
“I’ve got a good show but like all sports, it’s about how well you go on the day,” he said. “Anyone in the top 10 shooters could win it. Preparation is very important and I feel my lead up has been good (winning Gold in Baku which shot him to the top world ranking, albeit for a short time).”
The former Corowa High School student and Corowa Gun Club member appreciates the support of the community.
He always mentions the support he receives from his major sponsors in Kennedy Builders Mulwala, CMCU, Yarrawonga Toyota and Club Mulwala, and other businesses and individuals.
“I really appreciate the wide community support and particularly thank Kennedy Builders for their flexibility with my working arrangements,” the third-year apprentice carpenter said.
“I’m away for about a third of the year with events. Some world class shooters train and compete full-time and so the flexibility for me by Kennedy Builders is just great – I can train after work and on weekends as well as compete.”
Willett is a great competitor and intends to be at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 and the Australian Olympics, in Brisbane, in 2032.
“They say you hit your prime in your 30s!” Willett said. “Russell Mark for example!” Russell Mark OAM won Olympic Gold at Atlanta in 1996, aged 32 years, shooting 48 out of 50 targets in the final round. Mark also hailed from a country place – Ballarat.
Willett predicts a 46 or 47 target hit will be required for a Gold Medal. Our community is hoping Willett can get that Gold before turning 30-years-of-age in December.