LONDON -- In the early hours Tuesday, Vincent Hancock of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit made Olympic history and put the U.S. over the top, temporarily, of China by winning his second gold medal in men's skeet at the Royal Artillery Barracks.
Hancock became the first Olympian to win two gold medals in the event. He also won in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.
Hancock broke the tie in the medal count between the U.S. and China, which stood at 17 before Tuesday.
He set a new Olympic record with a final-round score of 25 for a total of 148.
Hancock got off to a solid start in his title defense on Monday, posting a high score of 74, sandwiching two rounds of 25 around a 24. He held a two-shot lead over three competitors heading into Tuesday's final day of competition.
"Everything felt great today," Hancock said Monday. "The weather was perfect and I was seeing the targets really well."
Among those chasing Hancock were Stefan Nilsson of Sweden, Anders Golding of Denmark and Nasser Al-Attiya of Qatar, who all shot a 72. Tore Brovold of Norway, the top-ranked skeet shooter coming into the games and a 2008 silver medalist, had a rough first day at the range and fell six shots off the lead.
Hancock's wife, Rebekah, cheered him on from the packed bleachers while holding the couple's 5-month-old daughter, Brenlyn. Rebekah was also in Beijing to see Hancock win his gold medal and said she felt déjà vu in London on Monday.
Hancock is one of seven Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit competing in the London Games.
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