The University of Mississippi Athletics
Medal Rebel: Audrey Gogniat’s Journey from the Olympics to Ole Miss
10/2/2024 | Rifle
Almost 5,000 miles and up to a 17-hour flight separates Audrey Gogniat from her native land.
Hailing from Le Noirmont, a village in the canton of Jura, Switzerland, Gogniat made the journey to Oxford just before classes began in mid-August, having never been to the small college town that she'll call home for the next four years. While here, Gogniat will compete for Ole Miss' rifle team, led by head coach Rachel Martin and assistant coach Will Shaner.
It's a drastic switch in lifestyles for the 21-year-old freshman, especially considering what her life has been like with constant international competitions over the past two years. None of which more notable than her most recent athletic feat.
Gogniat represented Switzerland in 2024's Olympic Games in Paris, where she earned a bronze medal in the 10-meter air rifle competition. Of Ole Miss' more than 500 active student-athletes, Gogniat is the lone Olympic medalist.
Now competing for Ole Miss, Gogniat looks to hone her skills and assist the Rebels' historically solid unit. Gogniat has been forced to make a quick turnaround from Switzerland to Oxford, but is primed to have a successful first year as a Rebel.
Destined to Compete
A parent's influence tends to shape everyone as they grow older. Most children pick up on parents' actions and hobbies from an early age.
The same is true for Audrey Gogniat, whose father, Roland, was a competitive shooter while she was growing up. After watching him compete, Gogniat thought about giving it a try.
"Every weekend, we were at the shooting range watching him in a competition," Gogniat said. "I thought, 'yeah, maybe I will try.'"
And try she did. Roland oversaw his daughters training at the start of her career. He helped Audrey gain confidence in her shooting and helped her overcome slumps that inevitably occurred.
Shooting is a family affair, after all, for the Gogniats. Both of Gogniat's sibliings compete in club rifle competitions. However, neither have reached Gogniat's level of experience.
Gogniat expressed the benefits of having a trainer for a father.
"When I struggle in training or competitions, he can understand what I'm feeling," Gogniat said.
Having somebody that understands you at a deeper level has its benefits. It also doesn't hurt to have such easy access to a coach, especially when an athlete is determined to be great. In the Gogniat household, the roles were clear.
"While training, he was a coach," Gogniat said. "At home, he was dad."
Having a mental connection with a trainer is critical, especially in a sport like rifle. Confidence becomes everything.
Rifle's mental requirements are unlike any sport. Competitors are aiming at a target the size of a period at the end of a sentence. The slightest adjustment, pulling the trigger a half-second late or early, a subtle gust of air, all can make the difference between a 10 or a nine (or lower).
Add on the pressure of competition, it's a sport that perfectionists should steer clear from.
However, it's what Gogniat likes the most about her sport.
"I like the mental part of it," Gogniat said. "Everything I do during the shooting; it has to be perfect if I want a 10. Every time, I need to push myself to do better than the last time."
Her training paid off in the 2020 Swiss Junior Championship, where she earned her first top-mark. For Gogniat, it was a moment where she knew she had potential to succeed in the sport. For her father, it meant much more.
"The first medal I won, my dad was behind me," Gogniat said. "After I won the gold, he was crying when I returned to him."
Gogniat continued to win, notching five more Swiss Junior gold medals. She started participating in European events in 2021, where she further established herself as a capable competitor.
After years of training, numerous international competitions and medals, Gogniat's strength of mind helped give her an opportunity most athletes only dream of.
Olympian Status
To represent your country in the Olympics is a feat that only a handful of athletes throughout history can claim. As such, it's one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed upon someone.
What gets talked about less is the competition between one's fellow countrymen for a spot on the national teams.
Switzerland's success in rifle has been prominent in the past three Summer Olympic games, as the country has earned five overall medals and two golds. All of which were claimed by female competitors. They are: Nina Christen, Heidi Diethelm Gerber, Chiara Leone and Audrey Gogniat.
Gogniat is the youngest member of this prestigious group. Additionally, she's the youngest of the group to earn her first medal by five years (Christen and Leone were both 26 at the time of winning their medals).
Prior to the international success since The Games in Rio De Janeiro in 2016, Switzerland had gone four straight Olympics without medaling and hadn't earned a gold since 1948. Before Gerber earned her bronze medal in the 2016, all medals in rifle were earned by male competitors.
Gogniat has ties with her fellow Swiss Olympic medalists, mostly by competing against them. She's had to fight for her spot in world competitions, and even the Olympics, by besting this group in competition.
There's always been a sense of friendly competition in the group, but Gogniat has expressed gratitude toward Christen for serving as a mentor in her athletic development. Christen accounted for two of Switzerland's medals since 2016 and claimed a gold in the 2020 Games in Japan.
The advice from Christen and all the years of training led to an important tournament in 2023: The ISSF World Shooting Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event would serve as a final qualification test to determine which countries and athletes would compete in Paris.
A specialist in the 10-meter air rifle, Gogniat would be competing as the lone Swiss athlete in that event. With Paris on the line, Gogniat shot a 632.2 in the qualifying round and 166.2 in the finals, securing the final spot in the event and earning her Olympic quota.
"It wasn't easy, but sports aren't easy," Gogniat said.
The focus shifted to Paris. Gogniat had two goals in mind for her time in France.
"The first one was doing my job. Every shot I take needs to be perfect. I cannot say 'oh, it'll be okay.' No, I need to do my job 100 percent. The second one goes with the first one. After my competition, I will only say 'whatever happens now, I did my best. I'm happy with my competition.'"
With nerves of steel, Gogniat confidently entered day one of competition in the 10m air rifle, where she'd face her mentor, Nina Christen.
Unfazed, she ended the qualifying round in third place, and beat out Christen in the process.
After cruising through the first four rounds of the final and posting a 188.5 score through 18 shots fired, the medal round approached. With four competitors remaining, and only three able to move on, Gogniat fired a 9.9 and a stellar 10.7 in her next two attempts, effectively blocking American sharpshooter Sagen Maddalena, besting her score by 1.4 points.
With a medal secured, Gogniat scored a 10.6 in her final two shots. She would fall just short of a chance at gold, but her run at Olympic immortality was a valiant one.
"I was really proud," Gogniat. "The last two years were challenging. After the Olympics, I thought 'that was not easy, but I did it.' I was so happy."
Along with the pride of medaling for Switzerland, Gogniat was more excited to represent her home Swiss canton of Jura. A grand celebration occurred in Jura when Gogniat returned. She was able to celebrate her achievement with those closest to her.
"I know that my state was so happy," Gogniat said. "I'm so happy to represent Jura, and I'm so grateful for everything. I don't have the words to describe it."
Her achievement led to a congratulations from the president of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd. It was an unexpected honor for a village shooter from the canton of Jura.
'Olympic medalist' will forever be tagged to Gogniat's name.
Destination: Oxford
What was next for Audrey Gogniat?
Only her, her family and Ole Miss head rifle coach Rachel Martin knew.
The pair were brought together at the 2023 ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany. Gogniat performed well in smallbore, claiming a fourth-place finish and a 435.7 score in the finals.
Martin was impressed and brought up the possibility of competing for the Rebels.
Gogniat was surprised. Even though she notched a top-five finish in an international competition, her confidence was hindered after struggling in air rifle. She questioned why Martin would be interested in her services.
Martin was insistent, and continued to keep in touch with Gogniat through the next cycle of competitions. After getting to know her, Martin became more convinced Gogniat was a talented individual capable of making an immediate difference on her team.
As time went on, and Gogniat earned a spot on Switzerland's Olympic team, other schools became interested in her talent. When it came time to make a decision, and Gogniat had a clear answer.
"Coach Rachel (Martin) wanted me here even when I struggled," Gogniat said.
It's a sign of belief from the start, and that's the difference to Gogniat. After nearly reaching the peak of athletic achievement in Paris, Gogniat set her sights on collegiate competition in America as an Ole Miss Rebel.
"Recruiting can be a difficult process, but Audrey made it easy," Martin said. "It was clear to me that she was someone who possessed an amazing work ethic, and was not scared of failure. She never let that stop her from betting on herself and I greatly admire that."
Gogniat said Martin and assistant coach Will Shaner helped her in every way possible to make the transition to America go smoothly.
"She is one of the kindest people I've ever met and she has been such a joy to have as part of our program," Martin said.
Despite only being in town for about a month, Gogniat has a sense of 'home' when it comes to Oxford.
"The feeling here is so nice," Gogniat said. "Everybody is nice. When I came here, I feel like I'm home."
The new season is rapidly approaching, and the sixth-ranked Rebels have high expectations. Gogniat has matched those expectations for herself.
"I want to show what I can do and represent Ole Miss," Gogniat said. "I hope to help the team grow and show the best of this university."
Hailing from Le Noirmont, a village in the canton of Jura, Switzerland, Gogniat made the journey to Oxford just before classes began in mid-August, having never been to the small college town that she'll call home for the next four years. While here, Gogniat will compete for Ole Miss' rifle team, led by head coach Rachel Martin and assistant coach Will Shaner.
It's a drastic switch in lifestyles for the 21-year-old freshman, especially considering what her life has been like with constant international competitions over the past two years. None of which more notable than her most recent athletic feat.
Gogniat represented Switzerland in 2024's Olympic Games in Paris, where she earned a bronze medal in the 10-meter air rifle competition. Of Ole Miss' more than 500 active student-athletes, Gogniat is the lone Olympic medalist.
Now competing for Ole Miss, Gogniat looks to hone her skills and assist the Rebels' historically solid unit. Gogniat has been forced to make a quick turnaround from Switzerland to Oxford, but is primed to have a successful first year as a Rebel.
Destined to Compete
A parent's influence tends to shape everyone as they grow older. Most children pick up on parents' actions and hobbies from an early age.
The same is true for Audrey Gogniat, whose father, Roland, was a competitive shooter while she was growing up. After watching him compete, Gogniat thought about giving it a try.
"Every weekend, we were at the shooting range watching him in a competition," Gogniat said. "I thought, 'yeah, maybe I will try.'"
And try she did. Roland oversaw his daughters training at the start of her career. He helped Audrey gain confidence in her shooting and helped her overcome slumps that inevitably occurred.
Shooting is a family affair, after all, for the Gogniats. Both of Gogniat's sibliings compete in club rifle competitions. However, neither have reached Gogniat's level of experience.
Gogniat expressed the benefits of having a trainer for a father.
"When I struggle in training or competitions, he can understand what I'm feeling," Gogniat said.
Having somebody that understands you at a deeper level has its benefits. It also doesn't hurt to have such easy access to a coach, especially when an athlete is determined to be great. In the Gogniat household, the roles were clear.
"While training, he was a coach," Gogniat said. "At home, he was dad."
Having a mental connection with a trainer is critical, especially in a sport like rifle. Confidence becomes everything.
Rifle's mental requirements are unlike any sport. Competitors are aiming at a target the size of a period at the end of a sentence. The slightest adjustment, pulling the trigger a half-second late or early, a subtle gust of air, all can make the difference between a 10 or a nine (or lower).
Add on the pressure of competition, it's a sport that perfectionists should steer clear from.
However, it's what Gogniat likes the most about her sport.
"I like the mental part of it," Gogniat said. "Everything I do during the shooting; it has to be perfect if I want a 10. Every time, I need to push myself to do better than the last time."
Her training paid off in the 2020 Swiss Junior Championship, where she earned her first top-mark. For Gogniat, it was a moment where she knew she had potential to succeed in the sport. For her father, it meant much more.
"The first medal I won, my dad was behind me," Gogniat said. "After I won the gold, he was crying when I returned to him."
Gogniat continued to win, notching five more Swiss Junior gold medals. She started participating in European events in 2021, where she further established herself as a capable competitor.
After years of training, numerous international competitions and medals, Gogniat's strength of mind helped give her an opportunity most athletes only dream of.
Olympian Status
To represent your country in the Olympics is a feat that only a handful of athletes throughout history can claim. As such, it's one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed upon someone.
What gets talked about less is the competition between one's fellow countrymen for a spot on the national teams.
Switzerland's success in rifle has been prominent in the past three Summer Olympic games, as the country has earned five overall medals and two golds. All of which were claimed by female competitors. They are: Nina Christen, Heidi Diethelm Gerber, Chiara Leone and Audrey Gogniat.
Gogniat is the youngest member of this prestigious group. Additionally, she's the youngest of the group to earn her first medal by five years (Christen and Leone were both 26 at the time of winning their medals).
Prior to the international success since The Games in Rio De Janeiro in 2016, Switzerland had gone four straight Olympics without medaling and hadn't earned a gold since 1948. Before Gerber earned her bronze medal in the 2016, all medals in rifle were earned by male competitors.
Gogniat has ties with her fellow Swiss Olympic medalists, mostly by competing against them. She's had to fight for her spot in world competitions, and even the Olympics, by besting this group in competition.
There's always been a sense of friendly competition in the group, but Gogniat has expressed gratitude toward Christen for serving as a mentor in her athletic development. Christen accounted for two of Switzerland's medals since 2016 and claimed a gold in the 2020 Games in Japan.
The advice from Christen and all the years of training led to an important tournament in 2023: The ISSF World Shooting Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event would serve as a final qualification test to determine which countries and athletes would compete in Paris.
A specialist in the 10-meter air rifle, Gogniat would be competing as the lone Swiss athlete in that event. With Paris on the line, Gogniat shot a 632.2 in the qualifying round and 166.2 in the finals, securing the final spot in the event and earning her Olympic quota.
"It wasn't easy, but sports aren't easy," Gogniat said.
The focus shifted to Paris. Gogniat had two goals in mind for her time in France.
"The first one was doing my job. Every shot I take needs to be perfect. I cannot say 'oh, it'll be okay.' No, I need to do my job 100 percent. The second one goes with the first one. After my competition, I will only say 'whatever happens now, I did my best. I'm happy with my competition.'"
With nerves of steel, Gogniat confidently entered day one of competition in the 10m air rifle, where she'd face her mentor, Nina Christen.
Unfazed, she ended the qualifying round in third place, and beat out Christen in the process.
After cruising through the first four rounds of the final and posting a 188.5 score through 18 shots fired, the medal round approached. With four competitors remaining, and only three able to move on, Gogniat fired a 9.9 and a stellar 10.7 in her next two attempts, effectively blocking American sharpshooter Sagen Maddalena, besting her score by 1.4 points.
With a medal secured, Gogniat scored a 10.6 in her final two shots. She would fall just short of a chance at gold, but her run at Olympic immortality was a valiant one.
"I was really proud," Gogniat. "The last two years were challenging. After the Olympics, I thought 'that was not easy, but I did it.' I was so happy."
Along with the pride of medaling for Switzerland, Gogniat was more excited to represent her home Swiss canton of Jura. A grand celebration occurred in Jura when Gogniat returned. She was able to celebrate her achievement with those closest to her.
"I know that my state was so happy," Gogniat said. "I'm so happy to represent Jura, and I'm so grateful for everything. I don't have the words to describe it."
Her achievement led to a congratulations from the president of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd. It was an unexpected honor for a village shooter from the canton of Jura.
'Olympic medalist' will forever be tagged to Gogniat's name.
Destination: Oxford
What was next for Audrey Gogniat?
Only her, her family and Ole Miss head rifle coach Rachel Martin knew.
The pair were brought together at the 2023 ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany. Gogniat performed well in smallbore, claiming a fourth-place finish and a 435.7 score in the finals.
Martin was impressed and brought up the possibility of competing for the Rebels.
Gogniat was surprised. Even though she notched a top-five finish in an international competition, her confidence was hindered after struggling in air rifle. She questioned why Martin would be interested in her services.
Martin was insistent, and continued to keep in touch with Gogniat through the next cycle of competitions. After getting to know her, Martin became more convinced Gogniat was a talented individual capable of making an immediate difference on her team.
As time went on, and Gogniat earned a spot on Switzerland's Olympic team, other schools became interested in her talent. When it came time to make a decision, and Gogniat had a clear answer.
"Coach Rachel (Martin) wanted me here even when I struggled," Gogniat said.
It's a sign of belief from the start, and that's the difference to Gogniat. After nearly reaching the peak of athletic achievement in Paris, Gogniat set her sights on collegiate competition in America as an Ole Miss Rebel.
"Recruiting can be a difficult process, but Audrey made it easy," Martin said. "It was clear to me that she was someone who possessed an amazing work ethic, and was not scared of failure. She never let that stop her from betting on herself and I greatly admire that."
Gogniat said Martin and assistant coach Will Shaner helped her in every way possible to make the transition to America go smoothly.
"She is one of the kindest people I've ever met and she has been such a joy to have as part of our program," Martin said.
Despite only being in town for about a month, Gogniat has a sense of 'home' when it comes to Oxford.
"The feeling here is so nice," Gogniat said. "Everybody is nice. When I came here, I feel like I'm home."
The new season is rapidly approaching, and the sixth-ranked Rebels have high expectations. Gogniat has matched those expectations for herself.
"I want to show what I can do and represent Ole Miss," Gogniat said. "I hope to help the team grow and show the best of this university."
Players Mentioned
/ Rifle
Shootin' The Breeze with Ole Miss Rifle's Susan Carter and Regan Diamond
Tuesday, October 21
HOT SHOTS: Audrey Gogniat and Emma Holtz
Thursday, March 20
Rifle Air Rifle Runners-Up NCAA
Saturday, March 15
Audrey Gogniat Air Rifle Individual ChampionPodium
Saturday, March 15