By USA Shooting

COLO SPRGS, CO (Dec 13, 2025) – USA Shooting closed the 2025 season on the international stage with a strong, statement-making finish at the ISSF World Cup Final in Doha, Qatar, earning six medals against the sport’s most competitive fields. The U.S. team collected two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, powered by standout trap and skeet results and reinforced by multiple rifle finals appearances.

The World Cup Final serves as the capstone to the ISSF calendar, with invite only entry reserved for athletes who qualified through season victories, world rankings, championship podiums, or past titles. With compact finals and ISSF’s faster elimination formats, Doha demanded precision from the opening qualification series to the final shot. Team USA athletes rose to meet the pressure throughout the event.

Not only did USA Shooting athletes deliver, but the season also brought top international honors for several U.S. athletes. Samantha Simonton was named the 2025 Women’s Shotgun Athlete of the Year after a breakthrough season highlighted by her Skeet World Champion victory and silver medal performance in Doha. Vincent Hancock received 2025 Men’s Shotgun Athlete of the Year honors, capping a season that featured his fifth consecutive Skeet World Champion title and a silver medal in Doha. Together, their accolades and podium performances underscore the depth and durability of the U.S. shotgun program heading into 2026.

Sam Simonton and Vincent Hancock: Shotgun Athletes of the Year

Shotgun: Six Medals and Multiple Finalists

Men’s Trap: Hinton Wins Gold, Eller Adds Bronze

Will Hinton ended the year on a career-defining high note. He led qualification with 122/125 and carried that momentum into the final, claiming gold with an impressive 29/30. Hinton’s victory marked his first World Cup Final title and cemented his rise in the world rankings.

Glenn Eller joined Hinton on the podium, qualifying with 119/125 and shooting a 23/30 in the final to claim bronze. Their dual medal finish highlighted Team USA’s continued strength in men’s trap.

Men’s trap: Will Hinton (gold), Glenn Eller (bronze)

Men’s Skeet: All-American Podium Sweep

Team USA owned men’s skeet from qualification to the podium.

Christian Elliott qualified in 8th (120/125), then delivered a flawless 36/36 in the final to claim his first World Cup Final gold.

Vincent Hancock, recently named 2025 Shotgun Athlete of the Year, entered the final as the top seed after a perfect 125/125 qualification. He finished with a near-perfect 35/36 to earn silver.

Dustan Taylor advanced through qualification in 2nd (123/125) and held his form through the quick elimination final to claim bronze with 31/36, completing the U.S. sweep.

Samantha Simonton: Women’s skeet silver

Women’s Skeet: Simonton Takes Silver; Vizzi and Rhode Final

Samantha Simonton, a model of consistency throughout 2025 and the year’s Shotgun Athlete of the Year, qualified in 8th (117/125) and charged through the final to secure silver with 34/36, adding another marquee result to her season.

Dania Vizzi qualified 5th (118/125) and stayed competitive through the midpoint of the final, ultimately placing 5th.

Kim Rhode qualified 7th (118/125) and closed the event in 7th, continuing to exemplify veteran steadiness on the international stage.

Women’s Trap

Carey Garrison competed in qualification and barely missed the final in a tightly contested field.

Mary Tucker: Women’s 10m Air Rifle

Rifle: Maddalena and Tucker Reach Season-End Finals

Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions

Sagen Maddalena reached the final with a 591 in qualification. During Finals, she held her ground through kneeling and prone and concluded the final in 8th after the standing stage.

Women’s 10m Air Rifle

Mary Tucker advanced into the final with a 631 to secure the final qualifying slot. She placed 8th, adding another high-pressure final to her resume

Sagen Maddalena: Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions

Medal Summary 2025 ISSF World Cup Final (Doha)

  • Will Hinton- Gold, Men’s Trap
  • Glenn Eller- Bronze, Men’s Trap
  • Christian Elliott- Gold, Men’s Skeet
  • Vincent Hancock- Silver, Men’s Skeet
  • Dustan Taylor- Bronze, Men’s Skeet
  • Samantha Simonton- Silver, Women’s Skeet

 

Team USA closed the season by reinforcing their global presence through standout world rankings across rifle and shotgun. In rifle, Sagen Maddalena holds the No. 5 spot in Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions, while Mary Tucker stands at No. 12 in Women’s 10m Air Rifle. In shotgun, Will Hinton finishes the year as the world’s No. 1 Men’s Trap athlete, with Glenn Eller close behind at No. 3. Christian Elliott leads Men’s Skeet at No. 1, followed by Vincent Hancock at No. 2 and Dustan Taylor at No. 14. On the women’s side, Samantha Simonton ends 2025 as the world’s No. 1 top-ranked Women’s Skeet athlete, with Dania Vizzi at No. 6 and Kim Rhode at No. 10.

With the last international targets and clays of 2025 now behind them, Team USA turns to offseason training and preparation for the 2026 international circuit, continuing the build toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

All photo credit to ISSF.

About USA Shooting

USA Shooting, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation was chartered by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the Olympic & Paralympic Shooting Sports in April 1995. The organization develops and implements programs to promote growth in the sport and serves as a sanctioning body for local and national competitions. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, USA Shooting has a full-time staff dedicated to our sport.