About James Willett

Born in 1995 and raised on a farm in Mulwala, New South Wales, James Willett’s journey to the top of world clay target shooting began at just 14 years of age.

Introduced to the sport through school and honing his skills at the Corowa Clay Target Club, James quickly developed the work ethic, discipline and resilience that would define his career.

In 2015, James burst onto the international scene in the Double Trap discipline, announcing himself with a Junior World Record at his very first World Cup — narrowly missing a podium finish. Within a year, he had risen to World Number 1 and earned selection to represent Australia at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. In Rio, he set a qualifying Olympic Record and advanced to the final, finishing an impressive 5th in his Olympic debut.

When Double Trap was removed from the Olympic program, James made the bold decision to transition to Trap — a move requiring technical reinvention at the highest level. With trademark determination, he rebuilt his game and successfully qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, proving his adaptability and resilience on the world stage.

Ranked World No.1 at the time, Paris 2024 marked James’ third Olympic campaign, cementing his status as one of Australia’s most consistent and enduring international performers in shooting sport.

Across his career to date, James has secured:

9 ISSF Gold Medals

5 ISSF Silver Medals

5 ISSF Bronze Medals

These medals span across ISSF  World Championships, World Cups, World Cup Finals, Oceania Championships.

Now entering the prime competitive years of his career, James is focused on qualifying for and representing Australia at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. With over a decade of international experience, he continues to evolve — combining technical precision, competitive composure and elite performance standards.

Off the range, James balances high-performance sport with a trade apprenticeship with Kennedy Builders in building and construction, reflecting the grounded values and work ethic shaped by his rural upbringing. He is widely respected within the Australian National Squad not only for his results, but for his leadership, professionalism and mentorship of emerging athletes.

As he builds toward LA 2028, James remains driven by the pursuit of Olympic excellence and the opportunity to inspire the next generation of Australian athletes.

Achievements

International Medal Record

Paris 2024 – Perspective & The Next Chapter

Competing at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics was my third time representing Australia at an Olympic Games. Each campaign — from Rio 2016 Summer Olympics to Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics and now Paris — has shaped me differently, both as an athlete and as a person.

Paris gave me perspective.

At 30 years old, I’m no longer the young athlete arriving at his first Games ranked world number one. I’m now balancing elite sport with work, family life, and the responsibility of being a father to a young daughter. The motivation has shifted — it’s deeper, steadier, and more meaningful.

Competing on the Olympic stage while managing the demands of training, travel, work commitments and family has required growth beyond just technical skill. It has demanded discipline, structure, sacrifice and the support of those closest to me. Paris reinforced how fine the margins are at this level — and how important experience and composure are when it matters most.

I firmly believe I am entering the strongest phase of my career. In Trap shooting, 30 is not the end — it is often the beginning of an athlete’s most consistent and mature performances. The lessons from three Olympic campaigns now form the foundation for what comes next.

The focus is clear: qualify for and represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

LA 2028 represents more than another Olympic opportunity. It represents the chance to compete at my fourth Games — this time as a more complete athlete, husband, father and professional. Every training block, every World Cup, every championship between now and 2028 is part of building toward that moment.

The hunger is still there.

The experience is stronger.

And the goal remains the same — to perform on the Olympic stage at my very best.