Young Australian Olympic team member James Willett has claimed a huge boost, beating Russian world No.1 Mosin Vasily to win a World Cup shooting gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.
The 20-year-old farmer from Mulwala in country NSW only took up the shotgun double trap event in 2014 but he's been on the fast-track ever since and the breakthrough victory in Rio on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) was his first World Cup title.
"Yes, it looks like I'm peaking at the right moment," said Willett, who also won bronze at the recent World Cup round in Cyprus.
"It feels great to win some medals and be on top of the podium."
Last year Willett secured Australia the spot he'll fill in the 18-man field at the Rio Games when he placed fourth at the world championships.
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He has continued his impressive rise, also winning gold at the Oceania Championships in Sydney and bronze at the Junior World Cup in Germany.
Willett learned to shoot on his family's farm and the family has built an $80,000 shooting range there for him to train on as closest range is four hours away in Werribee.
