James Willett and Catherine Skinner produced an absolute masterclass at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Shotgun Lonato 2026, powering to gold in the Trap Mixed Team event and setting a new world record in the process.
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) duo led the field from the opening stages of qualification, finishing top with a combined score of 146 out of 150. Willett was flawless in his own qualification round, hitting 75 from 75 targets.
That form carried straight into Sunday 12 July 2026’s final at the Trap Concaverde shooting range, where Skinner and Willett combined for 37 hits from 40 targets, eclipsing the previous world record of 36 to secure gold. Skinner, an Olympic champion, delivered a composed 20 from 20 in the final, while Willett added 17.
Great Britain’s Nathan Hales and Ellie Seward were Australia’s closest challengers throughout, taking silver with 35 hits. Türkiye’s Yavuz Ilnam and Safiye Temizdemir claimed bronze on 25, and Chinese Taipei’s Yang Kun-Pi and Liu Wan-Yu rounded out the final in fourth on 16.
The result marks a return to the Lonato podium for the pair, four years on from the bronze medal they won at the same venue in 2022, and comes on the back of a Trap Mixed Team qualification round in which Australia’s second pairing, Penny Smith and Gabe Sensi, missed the final by just two targets on a score of 143.
The team behind the team
A world record does not happen in isolation. On the ground in Lonato, Josh Ferguson, VIS Physiotherapist, travelled with the team, providing ‘pre-hab’ and travel support and event-day activation to keep every athlete moving well and ready to compete. Ferguson’s role extends beyond the treatment table, helping build the collective culture that underpins the squad’s performances.
Back home in Melbourne, a broader VIS support team plays an equally important part in the lead-up to results like Lonato. Daniel Dymond, VIS Sports Psychologist prepares athletes mentally for whatever conditions they face and equips them with tools to draw on under pressure. Elaine Bo, VIS Nutritionist makes sure athletes are fuelling correctly, so they stay alert and sharp across a full day of competition. Shenae Keleher, Performance Lifestyle Adviser, helps athletes stay balanced on and off the range, supporting strong time management and planning. Ryan Hatfield, VIS Performance Scientist collects performance data and builds learning opportunities for the coaching team to act on.
That support is backed by the VIS coach development team and Performance Support Team, who work closely with Renae Birgan, Shooting Australia Head Coach, to ensure the program’s coaches and athletes are set up for success on the world stage.
The gold brought the finals programme at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun Lonato 2026 to a close, capping a competition that welcomed more than 600 athletes from 80 countries. For the VIS, the result is another win and proof point of sustainable high performance built through the daily work of athletes, coaches and practitioners at Lakeside Stadium and on the road.
Willett and Skinner’s now turn their attention to the next competition, with the VIS program continuing its build on the pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
