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Bethany Norton wins World Cup gold in Tangier
Bethany Norton wins World Cup gold at her first senior competition and sets junior world record in Tangier
British Shooting’s Bethany Norton produced a landmark performance at the ISSF World Cup in Tangier, winning gold in Women’s Olympic Skeet and setting a new junior world record.
At just 19 years old, Norton was competing in her first ever senior ISSF World Cup final. Having qualified with a score of 119, she not only secured her place in the final but also guaranteed a new junior world record - a feat she only became aware of after stepping onto the range.
Norton went on to deliver a composed and confident performance in the final, taking gold against a field featuring Olympic and World Championship medallists.
Speaking after the competition, Bethany said: "I’m pretty overwhelmed. I wasn’t expecting to even qualify for a final this weekend, so to make the final and then come away with gold is just amazing.”
On her junior world record, she added: “Not until the announcer called it did I realise. Then I did the maths and thought, that’s a pretty good added bonus as well.”
Despite lining up alongside some of the most experienced athletes in the sport, Norton embraced the moment. “When they were calling everyone out - Olympian, Olympic medallist, World Championship medallist - and then there was just me, first World Cup final… it was a big moment,” she said.
“But no matter what happened, I knew I’d be proud of the work I’ve put in over winter.”
Competing in challenging and changeable wind conditions in Tangier, Norton’s preparation at her home ground proved invaluable.
“It’s definitely not been easy - there’s been some really low targets and really high returns,” she explained.
“But I train in the wind all the time at home, so it actually made it more enjoyable. I just focus on the target and shoot on instinct.”
This result marks a significant breakthrough for the young skeet shooter as she transitions onto the senior international stage, underlining the strength of emerging talent within British Shooting’s pathway.
- courtesy of British Shooting