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About International Shooting
Shooting was introduced as an Olympic sport at the very first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896 and has been part of every Olympics since except the 1904 and 1928 Games.
International Shooting is governed by the International Shooting Sports Foundation and its Board of Directors is made up of members from countries around the world.
The National Governing Body (NGB) that oversees International-Style shooting in the United States is USA Shooting.
Currently, 15 events comprise the Olympic Shooting program, divided into 5 rifle events, 5 pistol events, and 5 shotgun events. Both Men’s and Women’s events are featured, although men and women never face one another in direct competition. Male pistol shooters can compete in any of 3 events: Air Pistol, Free Pistol, and Rapid Fire Pistol. Centerfire Pistol and Standard Pistol are also men’s events that held at the local and national-levels and World Championships, but are not Olympic events. Women pistol shooters can complete in any of 2 events: Air Pistol and Sport Pistol. Male rifle shooters can complete in any of 3 events: Air Rifle, 3-Position Smallbore Rifle, and Smallbore Rifle Prone. Women rifle shooters can complete in any of 2 events: Air Rifle and 3-Position Smallbore Rifle. Male shotgun shooters can compete in any of 3 events: Skeet, Trap, and Double Trap. Women shotgun shooters can complete in any of 2 events: Skeet and Trap.