PARIS, France — Vincent Hancock, the Olympic shooting legend from Georgia, is planning one more go at the Olympics -- and if he claims the gold in Los Angeles in four years' time, he would achieve something no other Olympian ever has.
Hancock joined an exclusive club in Paris, winning gold in the men's skeet shooting event. He's won it three other times -- in Rio, London and Beijing -- and only seven other Olympic athletes in history can also say they've won gold in the same event four times. Among them are Michael Phelps, Carl Lewis and Katie Ledecky.
The 35-year-old spoke to 11Alive's Cheryl Preheim in Paris on Tuesday and said he "can't pass up" going for a fifth gold in men's skeet at the LA 2028 Olympics.
"As soon as we found out that Los Angeles was the host city for 2028, I'm like alright, I can't retire after Paris. I was really expecting to retire after this year," Hancock said. "But the opportunity to be able to defend my title on home turf in L.A., I can't pass up that opportunity. I have to at least try and make Team USA and try and defend it one more time."
That would place him in a category all his own (though 27-year-old Ledecky is certainly a strong possibility to try to do the same).
Hancock remembers when, as a young boy in Eatonton, the torch for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics came through his town. It began a lifelong love affair with the Olympics, and he said he has a deep appreciation for Olympic history.
"Exploring the history -- Carl Lewis is one of my favorite Olympians ever -- now to have my name notched in alongside his, that's really awesome," Hancock said.
Paris was the first Olympics where Hancock actually took him two medals -- he also won silver this week paired with Austen Jewell Smith for the mixed team skeet event. In the men's individual skeet event, he finished 1-2 with Team USA teammate Conner Lynn Prince, a younger shooter whom he's mentored.
He said the Paris experience -- competing alongside younger athletes he's helped coach and mentor along the way, having friends and family, including his wife and daughters, along for the ride -- is his favorite one yet.
Watch the video above this story for Cheryl's full interview with an Olympic legend.