We examine the history, events list, rules and all-time medal tally of the Olympics shooting sport, where Manu Bhaker created history by becoming the first Indian shooter to win multiple medals
Shooting has been a part of the Olympic Games since the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. After the 1900 Games, live pigeons were replaced with clay targets. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) was established in 1907, standardizing the sport. Shooting events were part of the Olympics in 1908, 1912, 1920, and 1924.
Olympics Shooting sport history, winners, rules, format, events, equipments, gun/pistol/rifle size, weight and specifications
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| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States (USA) | 57 | 31 | 28 | 116 |
| 2 | China (CHN) | 26 | 16 | 25 | 67 |
| 3 | Soviet Union (URS) | 17 | 15 | 17 | 49 |
| 4 | Italy (ITA) | 16 | 16 | 11 | 43 |
| 5 | Sweden (SWE) | 15 | 24 | 18 | 57 |
| 6 | Great Britain (GBR) | 13 | 15 | 19 | 47 |
| 7 | Norway (NOR) | 13 | 8 | 11 | 32 |
| 8 | Germany (GER) | 10 | 9 | 5 | 24 |
| 9 | France (FRA) | 9 | 12 | 9 | 30 |
| 10 | Russia (RUS) | 7 | 13 | 11 | 31 |
| 11 | South Korea (KOR) | 7 | 9 | 1 | 17 |
| 12 | Switzerland (SUI) | 7 | 6 | 10 | 23 |
| 13 | Hungary (HUN) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| 14 | Romania (ROM) | 6 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
| 15 | Unified Team (EUN) | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 16 | Australia (AUS) | 5 | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| 17 | Finland (FIN) | 4 | 7 | 10 | 21 |
| 18 | Bulgaria (BUL) | 4 | 7 | 6 | 17 |
| 19 | Greece (GRE) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
| 20 | West Germany (FRG) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 21 | Poland (POL) | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| 22 | Canada (CAN) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 22 | Czechoslovakia (TCH) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 24 | Ukraine (UKR) | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| 25 | Denmark (DEN) | 3 | 11 | 5 | 19 |
| 26 | East Germany (GDR) | 3 | 8 | 5 | 16 |
| 27 | Czech Republic (CZE) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 28 | ROC | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| 29 | Croatia (CRO) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 29 | Yugoslavia (YUG) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 31 | Belgium (BEL) | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 |
| 32 | Austria (AUT) | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 33 | Belarus (BLR) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 34 | Japan (JPN) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 34 | Slovakia (SVK) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 36 | Brazil (BRA) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 36 | India (IND) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 36 | Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 36 | Spain (ESP) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 40 | Peru (PER) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 41 | Cuba (CUB) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 42 | Vietnam (VIE) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 43 | Azerbaijan (AZE) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 43 | North Korea (PRK) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 43 | Slovenia (SLO) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 46 | Independent Olympic Athletes (IOA) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 46 | United Team of Germany (EUA) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 48 | Iran (IRI) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 48 | Lithuania (LTU) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 48 | United Arab Emirates (UAE) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 51 | Serbia (SRB) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 52 | Kazakhstan (KAZ) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 53 | Colombia (COL) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 54 | Independent Olympic Participants (IOP) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 55 | Mongolia (MGL) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 55 | Netherlands (NED) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 55 | New Zealand (NZL) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 55 | Russian Empire (RU1) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 55 | San Marino (SMR) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 60 | Argentina (ARG) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 60 | Chile (CHI) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 60 | Latvia (LAT) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 60 | Mexico (MEX) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 60 | Moldova (MDA) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 60 | Portugal (POR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 60 | South Africa (RSA) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 67 | Kuwait (KUW) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 68 | Georgia (GEO) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 68 | Haiti (HAI) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 68 | Qatar (QAT) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 68 | Venezuela (VEN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (71 entries) | 287 | 288 | 287 | 862 | |
Shooting at the Summer Olympics: history, events list, medal winners list, & best performers
When shooting returned in 1932, it included only two events. Since then, the number of events steadily increased, peaking at seventeen in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. Meanwhile, the 2008 Olympics featured fifteen events. Notably, American Carl Osburn amassed 11 medals—five gold, four silver, and two bronze—across the 1912, 1920, and 1924 Olympics.
In Olympic shooting history, USA is the most successful country with 116 total medals: 57 gold, 31 silver, and 28 bronze. China, ranking second in the all-time medal count, dominated in Tokyo with four golds, one silver, and six bronze medals.
know the events list in Shooting:
| Category | Event |
| Men’s | 10m air pistol |
| 25m rapid fire pistol | |
| 10m air rifle | |
| 50m rifle three positions | |
| Skeet | |
| Trap | |
| Women’s | 10m air pistol |
| 25m pistol | |
| 10m air rifle | |
| 50m rifle three positions | |
| Skeet | |
| Trap | |
| Mixed Team | 10m air pistol |
| 10m air rifle | |
| Skeet |
Olympics Shooting: rules and equipment
In rifle and pistol events, competitors begin by shooting at a 10-ring target during the qualifying rounds, with the number of shots varying by event. From this event, the top eight scorers advance to the final, where the target’s scoring zones range from 10.0 to 10.9, with 10.9 being the highest score. The men’s rapid fire event uses a larger target, and only the top six qualifiers proceed to the final.
In skeet and trap events, competitors aim at flying clay targets outdoors, earning a point for each successful hit. A referee confirms the hit by seeing a visible piece break off the target. Ties are settled with a shoot-off, and if necessary, the countback rule is applied, evaluating the scores of the last 25 targets (15 for double trap).
Competitors in shooting events utilize three positions: kneeling, prone, and standing. These positions are essential in three-position events. To handle the stress of repeated firing, they employ specialized equipment, including sights, shotgun cartridges, jackets, trousers, gloves, shoes, and protective head and eye gear.
- Rifle (three positions and prone): Small-bore rifle, no more than 8 kg (men) or 6.5 kg (women), 5.6mm caliber.
- Air Rifle (10m): Air rifle, no more than 5.5 kg, shoots pellets with compressed air.
- Pistol (50m, men’s 25m rapid fire, women’s 25m): Small-bore pistols, with specific size and weight restrictions.
- Air Pistol (10m): Air pistol, no more than 1.49 kg, must fit in a specified box.
- Shotgun (trap, double trap, skeet): Double-barreled, weighing around 9 pounds, with specific barrel lengths and pellet spread characteristics.