Every time Australian trap shooter and defending Commonwealth Games gold medallist Laetisha Scanlan lines up a competition shot, her mind is at ease, and it’s all due to what she had for breakfast that morning.

We often hear the key to success is hard work, perseverance and even passion but for 27-year-old Scanlan it’s about her meticulous pre-shoot routine.

Read our feature story to find out more about Laetisha Scanlan.

“I’m very set in my ways,” Scanlan told GC2018.com.

“I’ll arrive at a comp a couple of days before and whatever I have for breakfast that day, I will continue to have for the rest of my stay.

“I don’t know if it’s superstition, I guess it’s just knowing what to expect. So its calming in the sense that when I go to competition there are no surprises.”

Managing stress is an important part of being a successful shooter and Scanlan believes having a comfortable routine is important, especially in competition when targets are travelling at speeds of 100km per hour and coming from varying angles.

The Berwick shooter attempts to control the controllable in order to give her give a confidence boost, but she acknowledges some things are unpreventable.

“You can prepare as much as you can but at the end of the day some things are out of your control,” she said.

“It’s really about how you deal with them that makes you come out the other side as a better person and competitor.”

A self-confessed ‘relaxed’ person, Scanlan also has a number of other game-day habits to help ease the tension of competition, especially prior to the first shot.

“I generally listen to music, read a book, those sorts of things to calm the nerves,” she said.

“Once you go out to your first round, your nerves settle quite a lot, as you’ve already shot so you feel more comfortable and in the moment.”

As the reigning Commonwealth champion and having already qualified in first position for Australia, she is looking forward to a possible home Games appearance.

Commonwealth Games Australia is set to announce their rifle, pistol, shotgun and full bore shooters for GC2018 soon.

“I’m so excited to know that we’ll be competing at a home Games and that all my family and friends can come and watch me,” she said.

To experience the intense concentration and steadying of nerves live, purchase your tickets to see the trap shooting event on Friday 13 April.