Jake Sellens returned from Cuenca, Spain, with a bronze medal in the Teen 13-16 Precision category, marking him as the first UK participant to win a medal at the event.

Competing in his first ever world championship, Jake, who was part of the UK team, was also the first UK teenager to be invited to join the team.

Each country selected its four best shooters for the competition, and the UK team finished 6th out of 19 countries.

Jake's individual competition was intense, with high standards and pressure mounting.

He finished tied for third with two other competitors, which led to a shoot-off.

Jake tied again with another shooter, necessitating a second shoot-off to determine the medal position.

14-year-old Jake Sellens (Image: Jake Sellens)

With around 500 spectators watching, Jake maintained focus and eventually won, securing his bronze medal.

His father, Paul Sellens, who accompanied him, expressed his pride in his son's achievement.

He said: "As his dad, proud doesn’t even begin to describe it."

The atmosphere after Jake's win was reportedly incredible, with members of the UK team and spectators expressing admiration for his performance.

Jake, who earlier this year won the Harrogate Juniors UK Championship, chose to compete against semi-professional adult shooters at the Kent UK Championship, where he finished 4th.

Paul Sellens explained that the trip to Spain was meant to be a memorable experience for Jake, rather than a pressure-filled competition.

The unexpected victory and historic achievement turned the trip into a significant milestone for the young sportsman.

The World Slingshot Championship highlighted the competitive nature of slingshot shooting as a precision sport requiring concentration, consistency, patience, and self-control.

The well-organised event in Spain was a testament to the increasing seriousness and competitiveness of the sport on an international level.