Natalie Rooney

Trap shooter Natalie Rooney won a silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, with the podium New Zealand's best ever Olympic shooting result.

In Rio, Rooney had to contend with strong winds and the pressure of a shoot-off just to make the final, but looked serene and capable throughout competition.

She had her chances in the final, against Australian Catherine Skinner, leading 4-2 and still level-pegging at 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8. Finally she faltered and the Australian eased away to win a thriller 12-11.

“I’m stoked. It’s an incredible feeling,” she said as supporters gathered around her. “I haven’t had the best of luck in the past and to finally crack it at the Olympics is awesome.”

Rooney also competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games, where she placed 11th.

Rooney has been competing internationally since 2006. She placed 5th at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and 4th at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. In 2017 she claimed the number one world ranking in trap shooting.