Shooting: Natalie Rooney out to make history for New Zealand

Natalie Rooney in action at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Photo / Photosport.

Natalie Rooney returns to the international trap shooting range determined to once again make history for New Zealand.

The Olympic silver medallist returns from an international hiatus to compete at the shotgun world championships in Moscow this weekend, hoping to justify her No.1 world ranking.

No Kiwi has won a world championship shooting medal.

However, the 29-year-old has become accustomed to breaking barriers.

Her silver at Rio a year ago made her the first woman and first shotgun exponent from New Zealand to climb an Olympic podium. The only other Kiwi medallist was Ian Ballinger (rifle bronze) in 1968.

Rooney followed up with a maiden Kiwi gold at last year's World Cup final in Rome and also made history by climbing to the top ranking in May.

Solid returns this year at World Cup meets in Mexico (second) and Cyprus (fifth) followed a sub-par 21st placing in the season-opener in New Delhi.

Time away from the sport through the middle of the year included a stint of club netball in home town Timaru before a training stint with her Italian-based coach leading up to the world championship tilt.

It is her sixth stab at success, with her best result coming in 2015, when she placed sixth in Lonato, Italy.

Rooney lines up in the 10th group of 12 in a 68-strong field for the first round on Saturday morning (NZT). The second round and the six-woman final are a day later.

Defending champion and world No.3 Fatima Galvez should be among her leading rivals, along with second-ranked Australian Catherine Skinner, who narrowly deprived Rooney of gold at Rio.

- NZN