Shooting made its Olympic debut in 1896, but it wasn’t until the 1984 Los Angeles Games that 52-year-old Patti Dench secured Australia’s first shooting medal — a bronze in the inaugural women’s sport pistol event. From 1996 to 2024, Australia’s success in Olympic shooting flourished, with athletes earning an additional 11 medals. Among these achievements were dual gold medals from Michael Diamond, a gold and silver from Russell Mark, and Suzy Balogh’s historic triumph as the first Australian woman to win a gold medal in shooting with her victory in the women’s trap event. In 2008, Warren Potent claimed Australia’s first Olympic rifle shooting medal — a bronze in the 50m rifle prone event.