Tokyo Olympian Derrick Mein became the first U.S. male shooter to win a world title in the trap event since 1966, prevailing at the world shotgun championships in Osijek, Croatia, on Wednesday.
Mein, who grew up on a small farm in Southeast Kansas, hunting deer and quail, nearly squandered a place in the final when he missed his last three shots in the semifinal round after hitting his first 22. He rallied in a sudden-death shoot-off for the last spot in the final by hitting all five of his targets.
He hit 33 of 34 targets in the final to win by two over Brit Nathan Hales with one round to spare.
The last U.S. man to win an Olympic trap title was Donald Haldeman in 1976.
Mein, 37, was 24th in his Olympic debut in Tokyo (and placed 13th with Kayle Browning in the mixed-gender team event).
The U.S. swept the Tokyo golds in the other shotgun event -- skeet -- with Vincent Hancock and Amber English. Browning took silver in women’s trap.
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LET'S GO! Derrick Mein is the 2022 World Champion for Men's Trap AND earned an Olympic quota!!!!!!!#USASWorlds #TeamUSA #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/yh5bDzyLgu
— USA Shooting (@USAShooting) September 28, 2022
