»Shooting gold for Aussie Balogh«

Australian shooter Suzanne Balogh has won gold in the women's trap event at the Olympic Games in Athens.

The 31-year-old from New South Wales took full advantage of a collapse in form by the top medal contenders in blustery conditions to win from Spain's Maria Quintanal and Lee Bo-Na of South Korea.

"I can't believe it," said Balogh, who took up shooting as a 15-year-old and was taught by her father.

"I'm thrilled, I'm speechless, it's wonderful."

Balogh, an agricultural protection officer, hit 22 targets out of 25 in the final round to finish with a total of 88 points. Quintanal took silver with 84 points, one clear of Lee on 83.

The competition had been thrown wide open after defending Olympic champion Daina Gudzinevicuite of Lithuania and China's top-ranked Gao E fared disastrously in the qualification round.

Both Gudzinevicuite and Gao failed to reach the final, struggling to get to grips with strong winds that played havoc with the clay targets.

Gao, the bronze medallist in Sydney four years ago, finished with 48 points to finish last.

I don't even know why I'm posting it...