In 2025, USA Shooting celebrates its 30th anniversary as a national governing body, marking three decades of advancing the shooting sports in the United States. Since 1995, the organization has guided Olympic and Paralympic athletes to a total of 36 medals, including 14 golds. A cornerstone of American marksmanship, USA Shooting fosters the development of elite athletes, promotes shooting sports across all levels and plays a pivotal role in Olympic and international competitions. As we reflect on this milestone, it’s a perfect moment to look back at what has defined the organization over the past three decades.
USA Shooting’s origins can be traced back to a key moment in U.S. shooting history. Prior to 1995, the National Rifle Association of America served as the national governing body for Olympic-style shooting sports in the United States. For decades, the NRA was deeply involved in the regulation, organization and development of international shooting sports, hosting competitions and providing resources for American athletes in their pursuit of excellence.
However, as the landscape of competitive shooting evolved and the demand for a more focused, specialized approach to Olympic and international shooting grew, a new direction was needed. The split from the NRA occurred when it recognized that a dedicated organization—devoted exclusively to Olympic shooting disciplines—could better support the nation’s top athletes.
In April 1995, USA Shooting was officially formed as a national governing body, taking over the responsibility of governance, athlete development and event coordination for Olympic and Paralympic shooting from the NRA. This shift allowed the new organization to focus on training and supporting America’s top competitive shooters, while still working in close collaboration with NRA and other shooting organizations. USA Shooting would go on to maintain America’s standing in shooting sports on the world stage.
Since the beginning, NRA has been a strong supporter of USA Shooting and continues to contribute heavily with financial aid. In 2022, the NRA Foundation gave $252,000 to USA Shooting, followed the next year with another $250,000, and the same amount in 2024 before the Paris 2024 Games. The money helps USA Shooting with expenses such as team travel, athlete training and support, ammunition, targets, event fees and uniforms.
Olympic Success
USA Shooting’s focus is training and developing Olympic athletes, and it does this job well. Over the last 30 years, USA Shooting athletes have earned an incredible 36 Olympic and Paralympic medals, cementing the U.S. as a powerhouse in the international shooting sports community. (Since 1896, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic shooting athletes have earned a total of 127 medals.)
Of the many Olympic medalists over the last 30 years, two stand above the pack: Kim Rhode and Vincent Hancock.
Kim Rhode made her Olympic debut at the Atlanta 1996 Games, securing her first Olympic gold medal after a double trap victory. She had to settle for a bronze medal at the Sydney 2000 Games, but Rhode topped the double trap podium once again at the Athens 2004 Games. She picked up a women’s skeet silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Games, followed by a gold in the same event at the London 2012 Games. Rhode’s most recent Olympic podium performance was a bronze earned at the Rio 2016 Games, again in women’s skeet. She is the first woman athlete to medal at six different Olympics, which remains a top achievement in USA Shooting’s history.
Similarly, skeet shooter Vincent Hancock rose to prominence on the global stage, securing gold medals and further solidifying U.S. dominance in international shooting sports. Making his Olympic debut at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, he won his first men’s skeet gold medal that year, repeating the feat at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games. After a triumphant men’s skeet performance at the Paris 2024 Games, Hancock became the first Olympic shooter to win four gold medals in the same individual event, becoming one of only seven Olympians in history to earn four gold medals in the same event.
Last summer, USA Shooting athletes left the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with five total medals. Sagen Maddalena secured the first medal with a silver in women’s 50m three-position rifle. Hancock earned his aforementioned men’s skeet gold medal, with Conner Prince joining him on the podium with silver. In addition, Austen Smith won her first Olympic medal with a bronze in women’s skeet, later teaming up with Hancock to land the silver medal in the mixed skeet team event.
Culture of Excellence
USA Shooting’s success can be attributed to its unwavering commitment to athlete development. From grassroots programs for young, aspiring shooters to the elite National Team, the organization has invested heavily in creating pathways for athletes at every level.
In 1985, the Olympic Shooting Center and the Olympic Shooting Park were established in Colorado Springs to serve as the primary training site and headquarters for USA Shooting. More recently, USA Shooting has partnered with Hillsdale College, designating the school’s Halter Shooting Center as the official home of the USA Shooting National Shotgun Team in 2019.
Additionally, USA Shooting has developed initiatives like the Junior Olympic Program to introduce young shooters to competition and provide the foundation needed for success on the world stage. These programs focus not just on technique and skill but also on mental conditioning—critical for success in shooting sports.
As USA Shooting celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, it’s important to recognize the role the organization has played in growing shooting sports nationwide. While USA Shooting’s primary focus is on the Olympic disciplines, the organization has also been instrumental in promoting recreational shooting, providing education and advocating for safe, responsible firearm use.
Through outreach programs, partnerships with local shooting clubs and educational campaigns, USA Shooting has worked to expand the reach of Olympic shooting sports. These programs help bring shooting sports to new audiences—particularly younger generations—and encourage them to take up competition shooting.
The expansion of women’s and para-shooting programs has been a vital part of USA Shooting’s growth. Women, in particular, have benefitted from this, with more women shooters representing the U.S. at the international level than ever before.
The Future
As USA Shooting moves into its next 30 years, the organization faces new challenges and opportunities. One of the most pressing is the integration of new technology into training and competition. The rise of virtual reality training and advanced analytics are transforming how athletes prepare for competition. USA Shooting must adapt to these changes while staying true to its core values of discipline, integrity and excellence.
Securing long-term funding and support for Olympic athletes also remains essential. As the cost of training and international competition rises, USA Shooting continues to explore partnerships and sponsorships that can sustain its programs and athletes.
Despite these challenges, USA Shooting is well-positioned to continue producing elite athletes for years to come. The future of shooting sports looks bright, with new shooters rising through the ranks and a continued emphasis on excellence both in training and competition.
Looking ahead, USA Shooting’s future is in good hands under the leadership of Kelly Reisdorf, who took the reins as the organization’s CEO in 2024. With extensive experience in the firearm industry and a deep passion for shooting sports, Reisdorf brings a fresh perspective to the organization as it embarks on its next chapter.
Reisdorf’s vision for USA Shooting focuses on expanding the organization’s reach, enhancing athlete development and growing partnerships that will increase visibility and funding for international shooting sports. Among her priorities are strengthening grassroots programs and introducing athletes to competition shooting at an earlier age, providing them with the tools and support needed for success. Under her leadership, USA Shooting plans to expand its outreach efforts, creating a more robust pipeline of shooters moving from youth programs all the way to the National Team—building a strong foundation for another era of U.S. dominance in shooting sports.
As USA Shooting celebrates its 30th anniversary, history shows it to be more than just a national governing body—it’s an inspiring testament to what can be achieved with passion, focus and perseverance. The organization’s dedication to athlete development and commitment to excellence has resulted in a rich legacy of champions and groundbreaking moments in competition shooting history. Now, we look to the Los Angeles 2028 Games as the next opportunity for USA Shooting athletes to reach the podium and Olympic glory.
USA SHOOTING: 30 YEARS OF HISTORY
Over the last three decades, USA Shooting athletes have produced numerous achievements that highlight the nation’s position as a world leader in competition shooting.
KIM RHODE’S HISTORIC CAREER
Kim Rhode stands as one of the most decorated athletes in USA Shooting history. With six Olympic medals—three of which are gold—Rhode made history as the first woman in any sport to medal in six consecutive Olympic Games. Her groundbreaking achievements have inspired countless aspiring competition shotgun shooters.
VINCENT HANCOCK’S SKEET DOMINANCE
Hancock became the first man to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in skeet, securing victories at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games, then picked up another at the Rio 2016 Games, Later, at the Paris 2024 Games, he won gold in men’s skeet once again, placing him in an elite club of Olympians with four golds in an individual event at the Olympic Games.
TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS
Team USA’s shooting team came home from Japan with a total of six medals, including three golds, marking the strongest performance in recent Olympic history. Vincent Hancock won the men’s skeet gold medal and Amber English won gold in women’s skeet, giving the U.S. a skeet event sweep. Additionally, Will Shaner secured the 10m air rifle event gold medal.
EMERGENCE OF YOUNG ATHLETES
Kim Rhode won her first gold in double trap at age 17 during the Atlanta 1996 Games, making history as the youngest woman gold-medalist in Olympic shooting history. In recent years, young talents such as Conner Prince, Austen Smith and Mary Tucker have emerged, bringing fresh energy and promise to USA Shooting, achieving podium finishes at the Olympics, ISSF World Cups and Pan American Games.
PARA-SHOOTING MOVEMENT
Paralympic shooting has become an increasingly important part of USA Shooting’s portfolio, with athletes like McKenna Geer and YanXiao Gong competing at the highest levels and inspiring others with disabilities to get involved in shooting sports. After earning bronze at the Rio 2016 Games, Geer ended a drought for Team USA as the first U.S. woman to medal in shooting at the Paralympics, while Gong earned a silver medal at Paris 2024—the first Paralympic pistol medal for the U.S. since 1984.
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