Greatest Olympic shooters need a lot of concentration, focus, and stability. Few people have all these qualities, so it’s rare to see one shooter stay on top for a long time.
Shooting has been part of the Olympic Games since they began. In the first two Olympics in 1896 and 1900, live pigeons were used as targets, but from 1908, clay targets were used instead.
Shooting was not included in the 1904 and 1928 Olympics. When it came back in 1932, there were only two events. Over time, the number of events increased, reaching 17 in the 2000 and 2004 Games.
Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, there have been 15 shooting events, and the Rio Olympics will have the same number.
Now, let’s look at the 10 Greatest Olympic Shooters ever to compete in the Games.
10. Lioubov Galkina
Lioubov Galkina, a Russian shooter born on March 15, 1973, had a successful shooting career. She first competed in the Olympics in 2004, winning a gold medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions and a silver medal in the 10m air rifle.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she earned another silver medal in the 10m air rifle event. Besides her Olympic achievements, Galkina has won 5 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals in ISSF events.
She also secured 3 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 5 bronze medals at the European Championships. Her impressive record in rifle shooting makes her one of the greatest shooters in the world.
Olympic Games Appearances: 2
Olympic Medals: 2
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9. Olena Kostevych
Olena Kostevych is one of the most successful female Olympic shooters ever. Born on April 14, 1985, in Ukraine, she has competed in international shooting events since 1997. She is expected to be a top contender in the 10m air pistol event at the Rio Olympics.
At 31 years old, Kostevych has won three Olympic medals across three Olympic Games. She won gold in the 10m air pistol event at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She also earned two bronze medals at the 2012 London Olympics, one in the 10m air pistol and the other in the 25m pistol.
In addition to her Olympic success, she has won 12 gold, 8 silver, and 5 bronze medals at ISSF events.
One of her notable achievements is winning the 10m air pistol event at the 2002 ISSF World Shooting Championships when she was just 17. Her Ukrainian record of 394 points in this event is one point higher than the current world record.
Olympic Games Appearances: 3
Olympic Medals Won: 3
8. Guo Wenjun
Guo Wenjun is one of the top female shooters in Olympic history, ranking third in terms of success. She is from China and has been an inspiration to many young shooters today. Her performance in two Olympic Games has shown her consistent skill.
Born on June 22, 1984, Guo Wenjun is a very successful international shooter. She has won a total of 8 gold medals in ISSF events throughout her career, along with 1 silver and 4 bronze medals before the Rio Olympics.
In 2008, she won the gold medal in the 10m air pistol event at the Beijing Olympics. She successfully defended her title by winning gold again at the 2012 London Olympics.
At the Rio Games, she had the chance to further her legacy by aiming for a third consecutive gold medal in Brazil.
Olympic Appearances: 2
Olympic Medals: 2
7. Morris Fisher
Morris Fisher was one of the top Olympic shooters of all time. He was born on May 4, 1890, and died on May 23, 1968. Besides being an Olympian, he was also a shooting instructor in the US Navy. Fisher competed for the USA in the 1920 and 1924 Olympics.
He won a total of five gold medals in rifle events from 300 to 800 meters. Fisher ended his career after the 1924 Games because shooting was not included in the 1928 Olympics.
Fisher joined the United States Marine Corps in 1913 and began competing while serving. In addition to his Olympic medals, he won six world titles and set five world records.
At the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, he won three gold medals, and at the 1924 Paris Olympics, he won two gold medals. In 2009, he was honored by being inducted into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame.
Olympic Games Appearances: 2
Olympic Medals Won: 5
6. Alfred Lane
Alfred Lane is one of the top male athletes in Olympic history. He was an American sports shooter who competed in the 1912 and 1920 Olympics.
Born on September 26, 1891, and passing away in October 1965, Lane is remembered as a five-time Olympic champion. He is one of only five shooters to win gold in the same event twice.
Lane started shooting at the Manhattan Rifle and Revolver Association with a pistol. By age 19, he was dominating the United States Revolver Association (USRA) Championship and won three gold medals at the 1912 Olympics. He also won the USRA Championships for three years in a row.
At the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, Lane won two gold medals and one bronze. After his successful shooting career, he became the head of the photography department for a magazine publisher.
His medals are now displayed at the National Firearms Museum in Virginia. In 1991, he was inducted into the United States International Shooters Hall of Fame.
Olympic Games Appearances: 2
Total Olympic Medals: 6
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5. Maria Grozdeva (Bulgaria)
Maria Grozdeva is a Bulgarian sports shooter born on June 23, 1972. She competed in the 25m pistol and 10m air pistol events. She is the second most successful female shooter ever.
Maria has won five Olympic medals: two gold and three bronze. She is the only female shooter to win gold in the 25m pistol event at two different Olympics. Maria first won gold in this event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and defended her title at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She also holds the world record for the ISSF Finals in the 25m pistol category.
Medal Stats Of Maria Grozdeva Greatest Olympic Shooter
| Medals | Appearances |
| 5 | 6 |
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4. Kimberly Rhode (USA)
Kimberly Rhode is a well-known shooter competing at the Rio Olympic Games. Born on July 16, 1979, she specializes in double trap and skeet shooting.
Rhode is the most successful female shooter in Olympic history, with five medals: three golds, one silver, and one bronze. She is the only woman to have won three Olympic gold medals and the only one to win two golds in Double Trap. At the London 2012 Olympics, she won gold in skeet shooting and matched the world record by hitting 99 out of 100 clays.
An interesting fact about Rhode is that she once competed in the Pan American Games in Peru even after injuring her head and needing five staples.
Rhode is in good health at the Rio Olympics and hopes to improve her impressive record.
Olympic Appearances: 3
Medals Won: 5
3. Ole Lilloe-Olsen (Norway)
Ole Lilloe-Olsen was a Norwegian rifle shooter who was one of the most successful Olympic shooters ever. He was born on April 27, 1883, and died on April 29, 1940. Lilloe-Olsen won six Olympic medals, making him Norway’s top Olympic athlete.
He began shooting competitively in 1913 and quickly found success, winning a bronze medal in clay pigeon shooting at the Norwegian Championships. In 1918, he won the biggest rifle competition in Norway, “Landsskytterstevnet,” and was named the “Shooting King.”
At the 1920 Olympics, he competed in running target events and won all three gold medals available. He added two more medals to his collection four years later, becoming the most successful Norwegian Olympian.
Overall, Lilloe-Olsen won five gold medals and one silver medal across two Olympics. He defended his gold medals in 100m running deer, double shots; team 100m running deer, single shots; and team 100m running deer, double shots from the 1920 Games. In the 1924 Paris Games, he won a silver medal in 100m running deer, double shots.
In 1932, at age 49, he set a world record in clay pigeon shooting with 99 out of 100 hits.
Olympic Games appearances: 2
Olympic Games medals won: 6
2. Willis Augustus Lee (USA)
Willis Augustus Lee is one of the most successful Olympic shooters ever. He was a Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Born on May 11, 1888, he died on August 25, 1945.
Lee is famous for leading American ships to victory over the Japanese in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. Besides his military career, he was also an excellent shooter and won seven medals at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp.
At those Games, Lee won five gold medals, which was matched by his teammate Lloyd Spooner. Lee competed in 14 events at his only Olympic Games. His seven medals included five gold, one silver, and one bronze.
Willis competed alongside Carl Osburn in various team events. All the events he participated in are no longer part of the Olympics.
Olympic Games Appearances: 1
Olympic Games Medals Won: 7
1. Carl Osburn (USA)
Carl Osburn is the most successful Olympic shooter ever, winning 11 medals. Born on May 5, 1884, and passing away on December 28, 1966, he was a United States Navy officer. He competed in three Olympic Games and won 11 medals for the USA: five gold, four silver, and two bronze. This made him the top male medal winner for his country until Mark Spitz tied his record in 1972. Michael Phelps later broke the record with 22 medals.
All the events where Osburn won medals are no longer part of the Olympics.
Olympic Games Appearances: 3
Olympic Medals Won: 11
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