Three New Zealand shooters selected for Rio Olympics

Ryan Taylor (Photosport)
Ryan Taylor (Photosport)

When she's not shooting guns, Chloe Tipple is selling them.

Now she's focused on being New Zealand's first female skeet shooter to compete at an Olympic Games.

"Awesome -- I mean, it's such a great feeling," she says.

"I just feel so honoured to represent the sport and represent New Zealand overseas and internationally -- all round, just a really, really good feeling."

Tipple qualified for the spot for New Zealand when she won the Oceania Champs in Sydney last year.

The training and travel takes up a lot of the 24-years-old's time, so working for the family business is a big bonus.

"It's a huge advantage. I wouldn't be where I am today without the support of my family and the support of Gun City," she says.

"Being able to work here in the family business and them covering for me when away [is] just excellent."

Tipple will be joined in Rio by rifle shooter Ryan Taylor and trap shooter Natalie Rooney. Their selection has been a lot less stressful than four years ago, when New Zealand had just one spot for London.

Rooney had been named, but was dropped when Taylor appealed his omission, and won.

"Being selected and then being not selected was very painful, but it's only made me stronger and I know I'm more ready now to compete at the Rio Olympics than I was back then," she says.

Rooney is now in Rio and about to compete at an Olympic test event.

"At the moment I'm not able to shoot leading up to the competition, which is leaving me a bit frustrated because the grounds haven't actually been finished [or] built yet."

Tipple leaves for Rio on Sunday. She'll be hoping organisers are on target with the venue, so she can remain on target for her first Olympics.

Newshub.