The 2024 ISSF Junior World Championships are currently underway in Lima, Peru, bringing together the best young shooters from around the world. From September 23 to October 1, athletes competed in various rifle and pistol shooting events, with world titles at stake that will mark a turning point in their careers. Among the British hopefuls, Maddie Russell stood out in the women’s skeet event, delivering a remarkable performance at this prestigious competition.
Maddie Russell Crowned World Champion
Following the Olympic Games, where Amber Rutter controversially won a silver medal (her final target, which she had hit, was not counted, leaving her with silver rather than gold), Maddie Russell clinched the Junior World Skeet title at the 2024 ISSF Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru. With an outstanding performance, she claimed the gold medal after a tense final against competitors from Italy, Germany, and the United States.
After dominating the qualifications with a score of 113/125, Maddie qualified for the final in third place, where she kept her composure. She started strong, hitting her first five targets with impressive precision. As the eliminations continued, only Italy’s Arianna Nember and the USA’s Gracelynn Hensley remained in contention with Maddie for the gold medal.
Arianna Nember was the first to exit the competition, securing the bronze medal with a score of 38/50. The final then became a head-to-head battle between Maddie and Gracelynn. The Brit held a steady two-target lead throughout the final exchanges. On the 60th and final target, as Gracelynn missed her shot, Maddie sealed her victory with a brilliant hit, finishing with a final score of 51/60 to Gracelynn’s 48/60.
“I’m so happy to be world champion! It’s been an incredible year for me, after winning silver at the European Championships and gold at the World Cup, ending with this world title is just fantastic!”
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