William Shaner Records and Olympic Medals
20-year-old William Shaner became the youngest American to win a rifle event at the Olympics. He won the men’s 10-meter air rifle competition and set a new Olympic record in the process.
In the end, he narrowly defeated China’s Lihao Sheng to claim gold in Tokyo. The Kentucky Wildcat Olympian is the first American to win gold in the event since Athens 2004.
1. He is the youngest American to win a rifle event at the Olympics
William Shaner is the youngest American to win a rifle event at the Olympics, and he set an Olympic record in the process. He won gold in the 10-meter air rifle at the Tokyo Games on Sunday, July 25.
He shot a final score of 251.6, which was just 1.2 points shy of the world record. He defeated a talented field of shooters including Sheng Lihao of China and Lucas Koziensky of the University of Kentucky, who finished in sixth place.
Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Shaner began shooting at age 9 at a 4-H program in his home town of Rifle, Colorado. He later moved on to monthly preliminary tryout (PTO) events at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, which allowed him to qualify for major matches at a young age.
He went on to win a Junior Olympic Gold Medal at age 11 in 50m prone and made the Junior National Team at age 14 which propelled him into the international circuit. He is currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky.
2. He is the youngest American to win a gold medal at the Olympics
Shaner is one of the top air rifle shooters in the world, and he has a long list of records to his name. He is the youngest American to win a gold medal at the Olympics, and he has also earned a number of national championships in his career.
He is a student at the University of Kentucky, and he is a part of their shooting team. He was named NCAA Rookie of the Year his freshman year and was an All-American first team member in both air rifle and smallbore.
He won a gold medal in the 10-meter air rifle event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and he set a new Olympic record. He has also won a number of other national championships and international competitions, including the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany.
3. He is the youngest American to win a silver medal at the Olympics
William Shaner is a 20-year-old shooter from Rifle, Colorado who earned his first Olympic medal Sunday in Tokyo. He became the youngest American to win a rifle event at the Olympics and set an Olympic record in the process.
A University of Kentucky student, he started in shooting sports when he was just nine years old and won his first national title at age 14. He has been a top youth competitor and is regarded as one of the top prospects in the country.
He is a two-time NCAA air rifle champion and helped Kentucky to back-to-back team golds. He was also a first-team All-American as a freshman.
His winning score was 251.6, which he narrowly beat out China’s 16-year-old Sheng Lihao (250.9) by 0.7 in the final round. Sheng and Chinese teammate Yang Haoran finished with silver and bronze, respectively.
4. He is the youngest American to win a bronze medal at the Olympics
Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on April 12, 2001, William Shaner has established himself as one of the top shooters in his generation. He has won numerous national and international competitions, including the 2018 ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany.
As a youth, Shaner began shooting at age 8 and became known as a competitive shooter with a high level of precision and focus. He has continued to hone his skills through competitive shooting and other sports, such as hunting.
He has also been a member of the University of Kentucky’s shooting team, where he has earned multiple All-American honors and led them to a national championship in 2021.
He is currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and fishing. He is also an advocate for mental health, speaking publicly about his struggles with anxiety and depression.