On the Mark: St Andrews Shooter Represents Scotland

Shawn Lin has been called up for the Scotland squad at a prestigious rifle tournament later this year

“Look at the target. Close my eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out… Pull the trigger. Bang.”

As Shawn Lin described the routine he follows before every shot, it became clear that, for a moment, he wasn’t sitting at the table across from me; he was back at the range.

Lin has been selected to represent Scotland in rifle shooting as part of the Junior squad in the annual Scotland versus New Zealand match at the upcoming Junior International competition and is also in the running to compete at the Bisley Shooting Ground in the summer.

“The discipline we’re shooting at the moment is called smallbore prone shooting,” Lin told The Saint. “Basically, we lie on the ground, aim at the target, and shoot.”

Rifle shooting includes a range of different disciplines. In the smallbore category, athletes aim to hit as close to the centre as possible on a target made up of ten small circles, positioned 25 yards away.

“The selection process for the Junior squad is quite straightforward,” Lin explained. “Your coach will nominate you if they see that you were born in Scotland, you’re under 21, and your average score is high enough.”

Lin later admitted that “high enough” actually means maintaining a near-perfect average score of around 97.5 out of 100. Despite the level of precision required, he seemed relatively unfazed by the challenge of performing consistently under pressure.

Maintaining such a high average requires commitment. Like many student-athletes, Lin has to balance his training with his academic work, and he can spend up to fifteen hours a week at the range.

When Lin first began shooting at university, he mainly saw rifle as a hobby. Since then, however, he has started to take the sport far more seriously.

“Rifle shooting isn’t particularly physically demanding,” Lin said. “But mentally and psychologically, it’s very challenging. It’s helped train me to be more focused and more disciplined.”

In shooting, the smallest margins can make a significant difference.

“Every small movement you make while shooting has a big impact on where the shot lands,” Lin explained. “If I hesitate even slightly when I pull the trigger, the shot won’t go where I expect it to.”

Lin’s introduction to the sport during his time at school happened almost by accident.

“I originally wanted to do archery, but my school didn’t offer it,” Lin said, “So I tried shooting instead on a whim, joined a club, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

In his final year of school, Lin also gained experience coaching other students.

“I actually didn’t shoot as much in my last year of school, but I spent a lot of time coaching,” he said. “I really enjoy that side of it — helping people improve, especially beginners. I get a real sense of achievement from it.”

Opportunities to represent your country do not come around often, but Lin appeared remarkably relaxed about the prospect.

“Honestly, it was really only last year that I started paying serious attention to it,” he laughed. “But I’d love the chance to represent Scotland. Why not?”

With the awareness of a coach and the discipline of an athlete, Lin has now set his sights on joining the Senior squad as he approaches the end of his time in the Junior category. No doubt the St Andrews student will give it his best shot. 

Photo provided by Shawn Lin