COLO SPRGS, CO (Aug. 29, 2025) – In Lonato, Italy, the American flag rose above the podium — not once, but twice — as the national anthem played for Team USA’s gold medals in both Men’s and Women’s Skeet. It was a defining moment in a season already filled with victories, one that showcased the pride, skill, and determination driving the U.S. Shotgun Team to new heights in 2025.

With 34 international medals already secured before the World Championships begin, the U.S. shotgun team has shown unmatched depth, consistency, and dominance on the global stage. And with two major competitions still ahead, they are poised to further cement their reputation as one of the most formidable forces in the sport.

The Foundation of a Turnaround

The podium finishes reflect not only intentional changes made over the past 18 months to strengthen high-performance culture — refining team selection processes, investing in athlete resources, and expanding coaching support — but also the incredible talent of the U.S. shotgun team across all disciplines. Strategic donor investments have opened the door for more athletes to gain valuable international experience, opportunities that are directly translating into medals.

Stars and Milestones

Among the standout performances, Olympic legend Vincent Hancock captured his 30th ISSF World Cup medal with a gold in Men’s Skeet at the Lonato World Cup on July 8. His extraordinary career now includes five Olympic medals, four world titles, and more than 40 international podiums.

“It’s fantastic,” said Hancock. “If you win the World Cup or World Championships in Lonato, it means you’ve done something. I don’t take this lightly at all and this means a lot to me.”

In April, Olympian Will Hinton delivered a breakthrough performance, capturing his first individual ISSF World Cup gold in Men’s Trap at the Lima World Cup after already earning a bronze earlier that month in Buenos Aires. Christian Elliott made his own mark on the international stage, claiming his first individual ISSF World Cup gold in Buenos Aires and keeping the momentum alive with a silver in Lima — proving both athletes have the skill and composure to succeed against the best in the world.

L to R: Samantha Simonton, Kimberly Rhode, and Dania Vizzi, earned silver, gold, and bronze, respectively, in Women’s Skeet at the 2025 ISSF Lima World Cup. Photo courtesy of ISSF

Women’s Skeet has been a powerhouse, led by Kimberly Rhode, Sam Simonton, and Dania Vizzi, who swept the podium in Lima before Simonton and Vizzi repeated with gold and silver in Lonato. Vizzi, a Paris 2024 Olympian, has now medaled in Lonato three consecutive years. Simonton has claimed medals at three of four ISSF World Cups in 2025. Rhode, a six-time Olympic medalist and shotgun phenomenon, added a silver medal to her 2025 successes at the Bueno Aires World Cup. The El Monte, California, native is training with determination for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where she could take the world stage in front of a home-town crowd.

Rising Juniors Making Their Mark

The next generation of U.S. shotgun athletes is surging forward with impressive results. At the 2025 Junior Shotgun Championship of the Americas (CAT Games), Team USA captured 10 medals and eight quota slots for the Junior Pan American Games — many of them from athletes whose breakthrough performances were made possible by donors investing in young talent through travel, training, and international competition opportunities. That investment paid off again at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, where the juniors earned seven more medals, proving the strength of the shotgun pipeline and building valuable experience that will carry them into LA28 and beyond.

Looking Ahead

Nine U.S. shotgun athletes have already qualified for the prestigious ISSF World Cup Final — reserved for the world’s top-ranked competitors — and the team now turns its focus to the World Championships in October.

“From our Olympic veterans to our junior athletes, the talent, depth, and consistency we’re seeing across the board is inspiring,” said USA Shooting CEO Kelly Reisdorf. “This momentum is exactly what we need as we set our sights on success at the LA28 Olympic Games.”

With the season’s results so far, Team USA has shown the world that American excellence leads the field in international shotgun shooting.

Below is a full list of international medals earned by Team USA shotgun athletes so far in 2025:

JR SG CAT Games (March) 10 Medals and 8 Quotas

Medals

  • Benjamin Keller: Gold, Junior Men’s Skeet
  • Aidin Burns: Silver, Junior Men’s Skeet
  • Madeline Corbin: Gold, Junior Women’s Skeet
  • Benjamin Keller, Aidin Burns, and Westley Kiter: Gold, Junior Men’s Skeet Team
  • Gracie Hensley: Bronze, Junior Women’s Skeet
  • Carey Garrison: Gold, Junior Women’s Trap
  • Ava Downs: Silver, Junior Women’s Trap
  • Sidney Coffin: Bronze, Junior Women’s Trap
  • Connor Lynn and Ava Downs: Gold, Junior Mixed Trap Team
  • Kaleb Horinek and Carey Garrison: Bronze, Junior Mixed Trap Team

 

Quotas Earned for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games

  • Junior Women’s Skeet (2): Madeline Corbin and Gracie Hensley
  • Junior Men’s Skeet (2): Benjamin Keller and Aidin Burns
  • Junior Women’s Trap (2): Carey Garrison and Ava Downs
  • Junior Men’s Trap (2): Kalen Horinek and Connor Lynn

 

Buenos Aires World Cup (April) 6 Medals

  • Dania Vizzi: Gold Women’s Skeet
  • Kimberly Rhode: Silver, Women’s Skeet
  • Christian Elliott: Gold, Men’s Skeet
  • Glenn Eller: Silver, Men’s Trap
  • Will Hinton: Bronze, Men’s Trap
  • Carey Garrison: Silver, Women’s Trap

 

Lima World Cup (April) 6 Medals

  • Kimberly Rhode: Gold Women’s Skeet
  • Sam Simonton: Silver, Women’s Skeet
  • Dania Vizzi: Bronze, Women’s Skeet
  • Dustan Taylor: Gold, Men’s Skeet
  • Christian Elliott: Silver, Men’s Skeet
  • Will Hinton: Gold, Men’s Trap

 

Cyprus World Cup (May) 2 Medals

  • Samantha Simonton: Silver, Women’s Skeet
  • Carey Garrison: Silver Women’s Trap

 

Lonato World Cup (July) 3 Medals

  • Sam Simonton: Gold, Women’s Skeet
  • Dania Vizzi: Silver, Women’s Skeet
  • Vincent Hancock: Gold, Men’s Skeet

 

2025 Junior Pan American Games (Aug) 7 Medals and 1 Quota

  • Aidin Burns: Silver, Men’s Skeet
  • Gracie Hensley: Silver, Women’s Skeet
  • Alishia “Faith” Layne: Bronze, Women’s Skeet
  • Ava Downs: Gold, Women’s Trap
  • Kaleb Horinek: Bronze, Men’s Trap
  • Carey Garrison & Tony Meola: Gold, Mixed Trap Team
  • Ava Downs & Kaleb Horinek: Silver, Mixed Trap Team

 

Quota Earned for the 2027 Pan American Games

  • Women’s Trap: Ava Downs

 

A Personal Thanks to Our Sponsors and Donors

This season’s success is only possible because of the generosity, belief, and commitment of our sponsors and donors. Your investment is producing gold medals, pride during the national anthem, and proof that American talent still leads the world. Whether it’s supporting an Olympian on the road to LA28 or giving a junior athlete their first shot at international competition, you are partners in every victory.

USA Shooting extends heartfelt thanks to The NRA Foundation, Hillsdale College, The International Order of T. Roosevelt, The Hal & Jean Glassen Foundation, Safari Club International, MidwayUSA Foundation, Shoot the Moon, and all who stand with us in this mission.

Join the Movement

When our athletes take the podium, they represent all of us — our country, our sport, and the values we share. By becoming a USA Shooting member, you’re not just supporting the Second Amendment; you’re standing behind the athletes who make the anthem play on the world stage.

Join us today, and be part of the team that’s making history.