USA Shooting: Vincent Hancock, Austen Smith Earn Gold At 2023 ISSF World Championship

Vincent Hancock and Austen Smith captured Mixed Skeet Team gold at the 2023 International Shooting Sports Federation Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan.

by
posted on August 22, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Mixed Skeet1
Vincent Hancock and Austen Smith earned gold in Mixed Skeet Team at the 2023 International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, August 20.
Brittany Nelson, USA Shooting Communications Manager

Vincent Hancock and Austen Smith topped the Mixed Skeet Team leaderboard to win the gold medal at the 2023 International Shooting Sports Federation World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sunday, August 20.

Hancock and Smith’s qualification score of 149/150 set a new world record. The American duo outshot the Ukrainian team in the gold medal match.

Additionally, Hancock from Eatonton, Georgia, and Smith of Keller, Texas, earned gold medals in their respective Men’s and Women’s Skeet Team events. Hancock, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, was joined by Christian Elliott and Dustan Taylor on the podium. The men’s score of 369/375 placed them above the Greek team, who earned silver.

The American trio of Smith, Dania Vizzi and Samantha Simonton set a new world record with their score of 365/375, defeating the Italian team who finished second.

Vizzi also claimed the silver medal in Women’s Skeet, bringing the shotgun team’s 2023 World Championship medal count to four. 

Hancock and Smith’s world championship title marks the duo’s second international gold medal of the year. The pair earned first place in Mixed Skeet Team at the 2023 ISSF Lonato World Cup this past July, where they edged out Chile in the gold medal match.

Hancock and Smith will both be competing at the 2023 Pan American Games this fall in Santiago, Chile. Hancock has earned gold medals in Men’s Skeet at both the 2007 and 2011 Games. In addition, Smith will be making her Pan American Games debut.

The USA Shooting trapshooting team will begin its World Championship competition tomorrow, Wednesday, August 23.

As for the rifle competition, Sagen Maddalena earned bronze in the Women’s 50m Rifle 3-Position event on Monday, August 21. Her qualification score, combined with scores from Sarah Beard and Mary Tucker, earned the Women’s team a gold medal, along with a new team world record. Currently, USA Shooting has landed a total of six World Championship medals.

You can view the full results of the match at the ISSF website.

Learn more about USA Shooting at usashooting.org.

Latest

USPSA 40K Members 1A
USPSA 40K Members 1A

USPSA Membership Surges Past 40,000, Shattering All-Time Record

USPSA & Steel Challenge top 40,000 members for the first time, marking a major milestone and reflecting booming grassroots participation and competitive growth.

New: Laser Ammo Flash Bolt For AR Dry-Fire Training

Laser Ammo’s new Flash Bolt turns your AR into a dry-fire practice powerhouse.

Bunker Club Fuels 22 Junior Athletes With 2025 Grants

Bunker Club awards 22 junior shooting athletes $6,363 each to support their competitive journey in 2025.

4 Illinois Rifle Teams Set Sights On 2025 NRA F-Class Nationals

Four Illinois rifle teams set their sights on the 2025 NRA F-Class Nationals, ready to compete in Mid-Range and Long-Range events.

USPSA: Celebrating Growth, Fueling The Future

USPSA celebrates surpassing 40,000 members, with growing participation signaling a dynamic new chapter for the practical competition shooting community.

Competitors’ Corner: July 2025

Highlights from the July 2025 issue of Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competitive shooting journal.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.