Dania Vizzi and Samantha Simonton earned gold and silver medals, respectively, in Women’s Skeet at the 2023 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Lonato, Italy, Shotgun World Cup, July 8-17.
Vizzi earned her Lonato first place medal after beating Simonton in the gold medal match. Vizzi’s victory brings her 2023 World Cup medal count to three. She earned silver medals in Mixed Team Skeet and Women’s Skeet team at the ISSF Rabat Shotgun World Cup in January.
“It’s amazing just to be out there with the best in the world and on such a big field here in Italy,” the Odessa, Florida, native said after securing the gold medal. “To come out on top is such a great experience and I am very blessed.”
Simonton’s Lonato silver medal was her second of the year. She also earned silver in Women’s Skeet at the ISSF Doha World Cup in March.
“This is my second World Cup medal this year so that feels great,” Simonton, a Gainesville, Georgia, native said. “It was not quite the performance I was hoping for, but I am ready to go home and train some more to get ready for Worlds.”
Vincent Hancock won a gold medal with teammate, and fellow Tokyo 2020 Olympian, Austen Smith, in the Mixed Team Skeet event. This was Smith’s first year competing in the open age category at a World Cup.
“It feels good to shoot a great qualification score and make it to any final,” Hancock, a three-time Olympic gold medalist said. “I’m thankful that my teammate and I were able to compete at a high level at this match, and I’m looking forward to replicating that outcome at the World Championships next month.”
Hancock’s international accomplishments are stacking up for 2023. He earned gold in Men’s Skeet Team and silver in Men’s Skeet at the ISSF Doha World Cup this past March.
Additionally, Hancock and teammate Dustan Taylor qualified for the Men’s Skeet finals where Hancock finished fifth and Taylor finished fourth.
Kimberly Rhode, a NRA Board Member, competed at the Lonato World Cup for ranking points and had a stellar performance, shooting the top score of 124 out of 125 targets total.
Ryann Phillips competed in Women’s Trap and finished fourth overall after qualifying for the finals.
Vizzi, Simonton, Hancock and Smith all saw success a few months ago at the 2023 USA Shooting National Championships in May. Hancock and Smith were crowned Men’s and Women’s Skeet champions, respectively. Vizzi placed second overall in Women’s Skeet followed closely by Simonton who earned bronze. The competition also served as the Paris 2024 Olympic Trials Part 1 for shotgun.
The shotgun team is currently training to prepare for the 2023 ISSF World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, August 14 to September 1, their next stop on the Path to Paris.
Learn more about USA Shooting at usashooting.org.
