Battle ace Scott selected for Olympics

Battle shooter Steve Scott has been selected to represent Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio

The Battle marksman is among six shooting athletes officially selected to compete for Team GB in Rio next summer, as announced today (Tuesday).

Scott said: “It feels awesome. I’ve worked really hard and it feels great that Team GB would choose me to represent them at the Olympic Games. I’ve had a really successful year and it goes to show that hard work pays off.”

The 30-year-old will compete in the men’s double trap discipline alongside compatriot Tim Kneale. Both men earned Olympic ‘quota’ places for Team GB earlier this year, Scott by winning a silver medal at the Gabala 2015 World Cup in August.

It will be Scott’s second Olympic appearance having finished 12th in Beijing in 2008 - the same year he clinched the first of his two European Championship triumphs.

Since then Scott has become a double Commonwealth Games gold medallist. He won the double trap pairs at Delhi 2010 alongside Stevan Walton and the individual accolade at Glasgow 2014.

Scott is a double World Championship bronze medallist and finished fifth at the inaugural Baku 2015 European Games this summer.

He rounded-off a successful 2015 season in style by winning gold at the ISSF World Cup Final in Cyprus last month - one of the highlights of his career to date. Scott moved up to third in the world rankings as a result - one place behind Kneale.

“I wasn’t shooting great leading up to London 2012 and Team GB selected the right people at the time,” admitted Scott. “I want to succeed now as much as I did in 2008 when I competed in my first Olympic Games.”

Scott wished to thank his coach Sheikh Al Maktoum, sponsors Perazzi and Carmyke Leasing (Herstmonceux), UK Sport, the National Lottery and British Shooting, plus his friends, family and girlfriend.

The other shooters selected to represent Team GB in Rio, incidentally, are Amber Hill and Elena Allen (both women’s skeet), Ed Ling (men’s trap) and Jen McIntosh (women’s 50m 3 positions).

The announcement of the six shooters takes Team GB’s total number of selected athletes for Rio 2016 to 18 from three sports following the announcements of eight sailors and four slalom canoeists.

Team GB has a proud record of shooting success at the Olympics, sitting sixth on the all-time table with 44 medals - 13 gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze. Three years ago at London 2012, Peter Wilson came away with the team’s only medal after winning gold in the men’s double trap.

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