Rio Olympics 2016: Aussie shooter Will Godward aiming for the stars at second Olympics

SHOOTER Will Godward is all starry eyed ahead of the Rio Olympics. But he’s not overawed about competing on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

Will Godward hopes his result will be better in Rio than they were London.

SOUTH Australian shooter Will Godward is all starry eyed ahead of the Rio Olympics.

But he’s not overawed about competing on the biggest sporting stage in the world.

It’s just that his main interest outside of shooting is astronomy, or astro photography, which is taking photos of the stars.

“My interest in astronomy started at the same time I started shooting - when I was 12 in 1996 after seeing Comet Hale-Bopp,” said Godward who has been a member of the Astronomical Society of SA for 16 years.

“I used to do shooting on a Friday and then drive to the local astronomy club to do a viewing that night.

“So now when I’m not shooting I’m out looking at the stars.”

Godward, 32, is one of three SA shooters on the team for Rio, which will be his second Games, along with 18-year-old Jack Rossiter and veteran David Chapman.

Born in Townsville he grew up in Moonta, where he started shooting. He now lives on a 14-acre property at Nairne in the Adelaide Hills.

Self-coached and self-funded, Godward trains four times a week with Target Rifle SA at Wingfield while working full-time for Tasco Sales which imports telescopes used for astronomy and optics for rifles - his two passions.

He started shooting as a 12-year-old when his cousin invited him to the range on the Yorke Peninsula and he joined the sporting shooters association.

At 23 he joined Target Rifle Australia and soon after was competing for Australia at World Cups and Oceania championships.

Godward made his Olympic debut in London in 2012 where he finished 40th in the air rifle category.

He now shoots a .22 calibre in the ‘three position’ which requires competitors to have 40 shots kneeling, 40 prone and 40 standing over three hours.

“Everyone says the Olympics is a greatest show on earth and it (London) was crazy,” Godward said.

“But you’ve got to try not to let that sidetrack you.

“I’m competing in a different event in Rio so I have different expectations. I’m a lot more experienced so my results should be better.”

Godward is married to wife Misha who he says is his biggest supporter along with his mother Veris who brought him his first gun at 16.

Originally published as Rio Olympics 2016: Aussie shooter Will Godward aiming for the stars at second Olympics