The Australian Team’s 2025 International Shooting Sport Federation Pistol/Rifle World Championships campaign concluded over the weekend in Cairo, Egypt. The event, the largest competition of the year, brought together more than 700 athletes representing 72 federations.
Jack Rossiter and Olivia Cartwright competed in three events that included 10m Air Rifle, 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team and 50m Rifle 3 Positions. Ellie Rudder and Alison Heinrich both competed in the 25m Pistol Women’s event.
Olivia, Ellie and Alison made their senior World Championships debut in Cairo — a remarkable milestone, and an especially meaningful way for Olivia and Ellie to conclude their final year as Juniors. Throughout the event, Petr Kurka worked closely with the two rifle athletes while also serving as Team Leader and Vladimir Galiabovitch provided dedicated coaching support to the pistol athletes.
“As Team Leader, I ensured everyone had what they needed for optimal performance.” Petr said. “Overall, our small teams’ performance in Cairo was positive. With two juniors (Olivia and Ellie), and all three women competing at their first senior World Championships, this was a valuable experience for their development. You could see that all of our team members were doing their best to perform well and represent Australia professionally. Most importantly, what we learned from this championship will be very useful for our preparation for the 2026 World Championship in Qatar – the first Olympic quota event for the LA28 Games.”
Reflecting on her debut Senior World Championships, Olivia said, “My first World Championships was an unforgettable experience. It was an opportunity to put everything I’ve worked towards in training into competition and give it my best effort. The level of competition at the World Championships is incredibly high as you’re competing against previous World Champions and Olympic medalists, as well as every country’s best athletes.”
In her final year as a Junior, Olivia had the opportunity to compete not only at the World Championships but also at a senior World Cup in Ningbo, China. “This is my last year as a junior, so next year I will only be able to compete in senior competitions. However, in my last year as a Junior, I have been able to compete in a senior World Cup and a senior World Championship event. This has been an incredible experience from which I have learned invaluable skills. As an athlete, it has been important for my development, as I am surrounded by other incredible athletes, from whom I have been able to watch and learn.”
Also in her final year as a Junior, Ellie acknowledges the many opportunities she has had throughout the year. “It is my last year as a junior which is kind of sad but I’m grateful to have had the opportunities I did. I think it’s amazing that I’ve qualified for both junior and senior World Championships within the space of a year which shows I am capable of holding my own as a senior next year and I’m up for the challenge of producing elite level performances when it counts.”
Having gained international experience through junior events, Ellie said, “Having any international exposure going into a World Championships is always a bonus but for me having competed at both junior and senior world events has boosted my opportunities to be the most prepared I can be for Cairo. That knowledge and insight you get from international competitions is so valuable to being able to adapt to the pressure that comes with a major event.”
Alison spoke about her preparation leading into her World Championships debut, “Being my first World Championships there was a level of anticipation leading into the competition. The opportunity to compete in Ningbo (World Cup) just prior to this, as well as two dedicated training camps between the competitions was fantastic preparation. Each international event, especially one as large as the World Championships, contribute to my growth and confidence as an athlete.
Exposure to international competition is incredibly valuable for an athlete’s development, and for Alison, 2025 has been a highlight year. “This year has definitely been a highlight of my shooting journey so far, with a lot of milestones completed, and competing alongside the best in the world has been a good reflection of where I’d like to be in the near future.”
Jack reflected on the level of competition at the World Championships as well as the senior role he was able to play in the Australian Team. “This was the highest level of competition across the rifle events that there has ever been. It sounds funny to hear that I was the most experienced on the team for once. I feel that I was able to provide support and insight to other members of the team. I believe the team that we have now is doing a great job and they have shown that they belong at the World Championships with their performance and preparation.”
The 2025 international season has been one of the strongest of Jack’s career, with his performances in the 10m Air Rifle also securing him an invitation to compete at the December ISSF World Cup Final. “2025 has definitely been my most successful year yet. I was fortunate to compete in many international competitions, where I’ve worked hard to perform at the same level I’ve shown in training and at home events. I’m excited to compete at the World Cup Final — it’s a great way to finish what has been a long and successful season.”
The Australian Team has now safely returned home and will take some time to rest and reflect on this World Championships campaign before preparation commences for a busy 2026.
You can find full Australian Team results from the World Championships via the Shooting Australia website.
