Shooting: 'Pistol Pete' out to end 12-year drought

Peter Wilson is Team GB's greatest shooting medal hope (Getty Images)

Team GB shooting chief Phil Scanlan is hopeful of ending the British shooting team's Olympic medal drought at London 2012. No British shooter has been on the podium since 2000 when Richard Faulds took gold in the double trap in Sydney.

Disappointing performances since then have contributed to funding for the sport being cut, but team leader Scanlan expects his squad to raise their game on home soil.

"It would be stupid to say we are coming here not to win a medal, that's what we are here to do," Scanlan said. "We know it's going to be tough, the rest of the world have been training very hard as well.

"The team are here to try to achieve personal bests. I can't ask for any more than that, and if that's good enough to get a medal then fantastic. We are certainly trying very, very hard."

Faulds, 35, will be competing at his fifth Olympic Games but Britain's main medal hopes lie with fellow double-trap competitor Peter Wilson. The 25-year-old from Dorset is the current world number one in the event, having broken the world record earlier this year.

"Peter's shooting very well in training, so we are hopeful," added Scanlan. "But it's still going to be tough, he knows that. We have to prepare properly, be ready on the day, and use home advantage as best we can.

"Hopefully the shotgun events will be better suited to large crowds, to get the adrenaline going as it's a more dynamic sport. Pete's got every chance."

Shooting will briefly take centre stage tomorrow morning when the Games' first medals are awarded.

Qualification for the women's 10m air rifle begins at 8.15am, with the final due to take place at 11am.

First up for Britain is Edinburgh's Jennifer McIntosh who, at 21, is the youngest member of the squad.