The ISSF World Shooting Championships are governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation. World Shooting Championships began in 1897, after the successful 1896 Summer Olympics, and although the ISSF was not founded until 1907, these early competitions are still seen by the organization as the beginning of a continuous row of championships. By this logic, the 2006 competition in Zagreb was called the 49th ISSF World Shooting Championships. These championships, including all ISSF shooting events, are held every four years since 1954. For the shotgun events only, there is an additional World Championship competition in odd-numbered years. These extra competitions are not numbered. In running target, there will be World Championships in Olympic years.
Shooting at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal comprised seven events, all mixed. For the first time ever, a woman won an Olympic medal in shooting: Margaret Murdock caught the silver in the three positions event. Lanny Bassham and Murdock tied for the first place, but Murdock was placed second after review of the targets. Bassham suggested that two gold medals be given, and after this request was declined, asked Murdock to share the top step with him at the award ceremony. Women had no separate shooting events at the time and were allowed to compete with men. Murdock became the first woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting.
British Honduras sent a delegation to compete at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany from 26 August to 11 September 1972. This was the then British territory's second appearance at a Summer Olympic Games. The delegation consisted of one sport shooter, Owen Phillips, who participated in two events. He came 59th in the 50 meter pistol and 101st in the 50 meter rifle prone.
The men's 50 metre team small-bore rifle was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of the event, though a mixed-distance team small-bore rifle event had been held in 1908. The competition was held on Wednesday, 3 July 1912.
The men's 50 metre rifle, prone was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1924 Summer Olympics programme. It was the third appearance of the event. The competition was held on 23 June 1924 at the shooting ranges at Reims. 66 shooters from 19 nations competed.
Karlheinz Smieszek is a sports shooter and Olympic Champion for West Germany. He won a Gold olympic medal in the 50 metre rifle prone event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
The men's 50 metre rifle, prone was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1948 Summer Olympics programme. It was the sixth appearance of the event. The competition was held on 3 August 1948 at the shooting ranges at London. 71 shooters from 26 nations competed.
The men's 50 metre rifle, prone was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1952 Summer Olympics programme. It was the seventh appearance of the event. The competition was held on 29 July 1952 at the shooting ranges in Helsinki. 58 shooters from 32 nations competed.
The men's 50 metre rifle, prone was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1956 Summer Olympics programme. It was the eighth appearance of the event. The competition was held on 5 December 1956 at the shooting ranges in Melbourne. 44 shooters from 25 nations competed.
The men's 50 metre rifle, prone was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1964 Summer Olympics programme. It was the tenth appearance of the event. The competition was held on 16 October 1964 at the shooting ranges in Tokyo. 73 shooters from 43 nations competed.
The mixed 50 metre rifle, prone was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1968 Summer Olympics programme. It was the eleventh appearance of the event. The competition was held on 19 October 1968 at the shooting ranges in Mexico City. 86 shooters from 46 nations competed.
The men's 50 metre pistol was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1976 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fourteenth appearance of the event. The competition was held on 18 July 1976 at the shooting ranges in Montreal. 47 shooters from 31 nations competed.
The Mixed 50 metre rifle three positions event was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1976 Summer Olympics programme. It was the seventh appearance of the event. The competition was held on 21 July 1976 at the shooting ranges in Montreal. 57 shooters from 34 nations competed.
The mixed 50 metre running target was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1976 Summer Olympics programme. It was the second appearance of the event. The competition was held on 22 to 23 July 1976 at the shooting ranges in Montreal. 27 shooters from 16 nations competed.
The mixed 50 metre rifle, prone was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1980 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fourteenth appearance of the event. The competition was held on 21 July 1980 at the shooting ranges in Moscow. 56 shooters from 32 nations competed. Gold medallist Károly Varga broke his shooting hand in a football match two days before the competition started, and had to wear a bandage over it when competing. He said that the injury actually helped him, because he was forced to squeeze the trigger more delicately.
The men's 50 metre rifle, prone was a shooting sports event held as part of the Shooting at the 1984 Summer Olympics programme. The competition was held on July 30, 1984 at the shooting ranges in Los Angeles. 71 shooters from 46 nations competed.
Owen Phillips was a Belizean sports shooter. He competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics. At the 1972 Olympics, he competed in mixed 50 metre free pistol and mixed 50 metre rifle, prone. At the 1976 Olympics, he competed in mixed 50 metre rifle, prone.
Amera Khalif is a Jordanian olympic sports shooter, she represented Jordan in 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
Marlies Ray is a retired sport shooter from East Germany. She was twice world champion.
