SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 58

WHEREAS, Keller native Austen Jewell Smith proudly represented her nation by winning a bronze medal in the women's skeet shooting event and a silver medal in the skeet mixed team event at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris in August 2024; and

WHEREAS, Competing at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Ms. Smith opened the women's skeet shooting event by hitting 122 out of 125 shots in the qualifying round, and she subsequently won a 14-point shoot-off against Great Britain's Amber Rutter and Greece's Emmanouela Katzouraki to advance to the finals in first place; during the final round on August 4, she claimed the bronze medal with a tally of 45 out of 50 shots; and

WHEREAS, The following day, Ms. Smith won her second career Olympic medal by securing second place in the skeet mixed team event alongside her partner and personal coach, Vincent Hancock; the pair turned in an exceptional performance, hitting 148 out of 150 shots during the qualifying round, and they ultimately clinched the silver medal with a combined effort of 44 out of 48 shots in the final match, finishing just one point behind Italy; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Smith's success in Paris follows her Olympic debut in 2021 at the Tokyo Games, where she finished 10th in women's skeet and was the youngest member of the USA shooting team at age 18; she began taking part in shooting sports during her youth and has won numerous international medals, including gold medals at the 2024 World Cup and the 2023 World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan, and a gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany, in 2019; she is currently studying aerospace engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington; and

WHEREAS, Through her skill, determination, and commitment to excellence, Austen Smith has ably represented the United States at the world's premier athletic competition, and she is indeed deserving of recognition for her inspiring achievements; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th Legislature, hereby congratulate Austen Jewell Smith on winning two medals in skeet shooting at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Ms. Smith as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

King

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on June 1, 2025.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate