During the 1900 Olympics held in Paris, live pigeons were used in some shooting events. Fortunately for those unfortunate birds, they missed the era of Nathan Hales.
In a remarkable display over 50 minutes on Tuesday, this 28-year-old from Kent proved to be the epitome of composure in France. An assassin with unmatched focus. A clay-target slayer, a record breaker, and ultimately, the proud holder of a shiny gold medal atop the podium.
While we might not always grasp the subtleties of the Olympic Games, true excellence shines brightly, akin to a vibrant red flare.
On an intensely hot day just two hours from Paris, Hales, with his Beretta DT11 shotgun, obliterated more targets than any other athlete in Olympic history, sailing to victory in the trap final.
He only allowed himself a smile after hitting the 48th of the 50 targets launched into the air.
Nathan Hales added another gold medal to Team GB’s haul as he won the men’s trap shooting
On a scorching day two hours south of Paris, Hales and his Beretta DT11 shotgun had demolished more of them than any man in Olympic history
Hales (right) was the coolest man at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre on a day where temperatures climbed above 35 degrees
“I am thrilled to have set an Olympic record along with securing the gold,” he expressed.
“Being in this place is a dream come true for me, something I have aspired to since I began shooting with my family as a child. Finally realizing this dream is simply surreal.”
“I just try to maintain a consistent approach, treating these events like I do during practice finals. I focus on my own actions and not on what my competitors are up to.”
Had he glanced over at any point, he would have witnessed the gradual decline of his opponents, one by one, as they struggled to keep up, the last of whom was Qi Ying from China.
Where others faltered, feeling the weight of the moment and the sweat from a sweltering 35-degree day, Hales continued his routine: shoot, hit, reload, shoot, hit, reload—repeatedly until the grass of the Chateauroux Shooting Centre was covered in red dust.
Before arriving at these Olympics, the previous Olympic record stood at 43. Qi managed to hit 44 and was tied through the first 33 targets, so this victory wasn’t simply handed to him. Despite lacking a global individual title, Hales is undeniably a formidable contender on this platform, as his world record of 49 set just about a year ago demonstrated.
In his Olympic debut, he proved that his skills could withstand the immense pressure, all in front of a crowd that typically only witnesses this sport for a couple of hours every four years.
Hales smashed the Olympic record on his competition debut as he hit 48 out of 50 clay targets
Hales was emotional following his victory as he celebrated with his wife Charlotte Kerwood (left)
Hales reeled off his final 18 shots in succession without missing a single target
At one point, he had reason to feel anxious after missing his 32nd shot—only his second error during the final. That allowed Qi to catch up, but where Hales excelled, his competitor faltered. Qi missed two of his next three attempts while Hales flawlessly completed his last 18 shots.
“It’s truly incredible to be broadcast on BBC, I’m ecstatic that people at home could witness this moment,” he said, celebrating his victory by cracking open the barrel of his shotgun and gently exhaling.
“I was aware I had a buffer of a couple of targets, providing great comfort, but I try to keep that out of my mind, and fortunately, it didn’t lead to any misses. Striking that balance is delicate and easily disrupted.”
On what became the most significant day of his career, failure didn’t appear to be an option.
