which shooting events are in the olympics? At the Paris 2024 Games, athletes competed in 15 events: six for men, six for women, and three mixed team events. The program covered rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines.
This guide lists all 15 events and explains how each one works, what the equipment is for, and how medal rounds are decided. You’ll also see how the disciplines differ and why the Olympic program can change between Games.
which shooting events are in the olympics? The Paris 2024 list
The most recent completed Summer Olympics, Paris 2024, featured 15 shooting medal events. They were split evenly between the men’s and women’s programs, with three events bringing athletes together in mixed teams.
The program included rifle and pistol events held on indoor or outdoor ranges, plus shotgun events on clay target ranges. Here is the full list:
| Category | Event | What athletes do |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 10m air rifle | Shoot at a stationary target from 10 meters using an air rifle. |
| Men | 50m rifle three positions | Shoot from kneeling, prone, and standing positions at 50 meters. |
| Men | 10m air pistol | Shoot at a stationary target from 10 meters using an air pistol. |
| Men | 25m rapid fire pistol | Shoot a series of targets in timed stages at 25 meters. |
| Men | Trap | Hit clay targets launched away from the shooter. |
| Men | Skeet | Hit clay targets launched from two different houses across a set course. |
| Women | 10m air rifle | Shoot at a stationary target from 10 meters using an air rifle. |
| Women | 50m rifle three positions | Shoot from kneeling, prone, and standing positions at 50 meters. |
| Women | 10m air pistol | Shoot at a stationary target from 10 meters using an air pistol. |
| Women | 25m pistol | Complete precision and rapid-fire stages at 25 meters. |
| Women | Trap | Hit clay targets launched away from the shooter. |
| Women | Skeet | Hit clay targets launched from two different houses across a set course. |
| Mixed team | 10m air rifle team | One woman and one man compete as a team with air rifles. |
| Mixed team | 10m air pistol team | One woman and one man compete as a team with air pistols. |
| Mixed team | Trap team | One woman and one man compete together in shotgun trap. |
These are the Paris 2024 event names and program. Olympic organizers can revise the lineup for later Games, so a future edition may not use the identical list.
How the three Olympic shooting disciplines differ
The event list becomes easier to follow once you know the three equipment groups. Rifle and pistol events test accuracy on paper or electronic targets, while shotgun events test how quickly an athlete can hit moving clay targets.
Rifle
Rifle events use a shoulder-fired firearm. In the 10m air rifle event, athletes fire pellets at a target 10 meters away. The target’s scoring rings are very small, so a steady position and controlled trigger release matter.
The 50m rifle three positions event uses a small-bore rifle and has three distinct stages: kneeling, prone, and standing. “Small-bore” means the rifle uses a small-caliber cartridge. Athletes must adjust their position and body support for each stage, then maintain accuracy as they move through the competition.
Pistol
Pistol events are shot one-handed, with the athlete holding the pistol away from the body. In 10m air pistol, competitors shoot at a stationary target. The event emphasizes repeatable aim and a smooth trigger press.
The men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event uses timed series on multiple targets. Competitors must raise the pistol, aim, and fire within the time allowed for each series. The women’s 25m pistol event combines precision and rapid-fire stages, asking athletes to adapt to different timing demands.
Shotgun
Shotgun events use clay targets that travel through the air. Competitors track each target and fire before it passes out of reach. Unlike rifle and pistol events, the target is moving, so timing and visual tracking are central skills.
In trap, a machine launches targets away from the firing line at varying angles. In skeet, targets come from two fixed launching points, commonly called the high house and low house. Shooters move through a course of stations and face a planned sequence of targets at each one.
What happens in Olympic shooting qualifications and finals?
Most individual events start with a qualification round. Athletes shoot a set program, and their scores determine who advances to the final. Qualification scores generally do not carry over into the medal final, so finalists begin the decisive stage on equal terms.
Final formats are not identical across all disciplines. Rifle and pistol finals use a defined sequence of shots and eliminations, while shotgun finals involve hitting a series of clays. The exact sequence and scoring rules depend on the event and the competition regulations in force.
In a final, athletes are ranked by their performance in that round. If competitors are tied in a position that affects a medal or advancement, the rules provide a tie-break procedure. This can make a final exciting even when an athlete had a strong qualification score: the medal is decided by the final, not by reputation or an earlier round.
Mixed team events also begin with a team qualification stage. A pair’s results determine which teams progress to the medal matches. The later rounds use head-to-head competition, so teams are directly compared against opponents rather than simply relying on a combined score across the whole event.
How mixed team shooting works
A mixed team includes one female and one male athlete from the same country. Paris 2024 had mixed team events in 10m air rifle, 10m air pistol, and trap. These events give athletes a separate chance to win a medal alongside the individual competitions.
Both members contribute to their team’s qualification result. The leading teams then advance through medal matches, with the format designed to identify a gold-medal pair and the other medalists. The precise match structure varies by discipline, so the rifle, pistol, and trap team events should not be assumed to use identical procedures.
Mixed team competition is not simply a duplicate of two individual scores. Athletes must perform under match pressure while coordinating with a teammate and following the event’s turn-taking and timing rules. Good communication can help a pair stay composed, but each athlete still has to deliver accurate shots.
Why Olympic shooting has both men’s and women’s events
The Olympic program includes separate individual events for men and women, alongside mixed team events. The separate events use the same broad discipline names and target distances, but some event rules or competition formats differ. For example, the men’s 25m event is rapid fire pistol, while the women’s 25m event is pistol with precision and rapid-fire stages.
That difference is easy to miss if you treat “25m pistol” as one identical event for everyone. Check the full event name before comparing results or looking up a schedule. A similar distinction applies when reading mixed team listings: the team event is its own medal competition, not an additional final within an individual event.
How Olympic shooting events are scored
In rifle and pistol competitions, each shot is scored according to where it lands on the target. The closer the shot is to the center, the higher its value. Electronic target systems can measure the shot’s location precisely, including tenths of a point in certain qualification formats.
Clay target events use a more direct measure: whether the competitor hits or misses the target. The athletes may have a limited number of attempts for each target, based on that event’s rules. A hit adds to the athlete’s score, and missed targets reduce the chance of advancing or earning a medal.
Do not compare scores across different event types. A rifle score, a pistol score, and a shotgun hit total use different targets and scoring systems. Even within one discipline, qualification and final scores may be calculated differently.
Which event should a new viewer watch first?
Choose based on the kind of action you enjoy. Shotgun trap and skeet are easy to follow visually because the target either breaks or it does not. Rifle and pistol events move at a calmer pace, but close scores and tense final shots make them compelling.
| If you enjoy… | Try watching… | Why it may appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Fast reactions and moving targets | Trap or skeet | Competitors track airborne clays and respond quickly. |
| Fine accuracy and steady technique | 10m air rifle or 10m air pistol | Small target areas reward precision and composure. |
| Different body positions and sustained focus | 50m rifle three positions | The athlete must adapt across kneeling, prone, and standing stages. |
| Timed shooting and quick sequences | 25m rapid fire pistol | Athletes must complete shots within short time windows. |
| Head-to-head team drama | Any mixed team medal match | Pairs compete directly, and every point can affect the match. |
A practical viewing tip: learn the target and scoring method before the final begins. For rifle and pistol, watch the score display and how small changes affect the ranking. For shotgun, focus on whether each clay is hit and how an athlete responds after a miss.
Common misconceptions about Olympic shooting
It is not one single event
“Shooting” is the umbrella sport, not a single competition. Rifle, pistol, and shotgun events have different firearms, distances, target types, and techniques. A strong result in one discipline does not automatically translate to another.
The events do not all use the same target
Rifle and pistol athletes aim at stationary paper or electronic targets. Shotgun athletes aim at moving clay targets. The skills overlap in concentration and control, but the competitive challenge is distinct.
Mixed team events are separate medal events
A mixed event is not an exhibition or a combined medal added to the individual result. It has its own qualification, match stages, and medal outcome. A country can enter a pair in the team event while its athletes also compete in individual events, subject to the Games’ qualification and entry rules.
The Olympic program can change
Past Games have not always used the same shooting event lineup. Events can be added, removed, or adjusted as the Olympic program changes. Use the official schedule for the specific Games when checking start times, qualification rules, or the final event list.
How to keep track of event names and schedules
Start with the event’s complete name, including distance and equipment. “10m air rifle” identifies a different event from “50m rifle three positions,” even though both use rifles. “Trap” and “skeet” are both shotgun events, but the targets are launched in different ways.
Then check whether the listing says individual or mixed team. Pay attention to whether it is a qualification round, final, or medal match. An event can take place over multiple sessions, and a qualification session is not the medal-deciding final.
- Rifle: look for “air rifle” or “three positions.”
- Pistol: look for “air pistol,” “pistol,” or “rapid fire pistol.”
- Shotgun: look for “trap” or “skeet.”
- Mixed team: check that the listing identifies a team event and the discipline.
One detail that often causes confusion is the word “final.” In shooting, it refers to the medal-deciding competition after qualification, not necessarily the last event of the entire sport. Different disciplines can hold finals on different days, so follow the event schedule rather than assuming all shooting medals are awarded together.
The Paris 2024 Olympic shooting program had 15 events: six men’s events, six women’s events, and three mixed team events. They covered rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines, each with its own targets, equipment, and scoring.
For a quick start, choose one event from the list and learn whether it uses stationary targets or airborne clays. If you’re following a future Games, check that edition’s official schedule because the Olympic event lineup can change.