Lucas Furlan is a clay shooting athlete who was awarded a Tier 3 Scholarship within the Sport Australia Hall of Fame 2026 Scholarship and Mentoring Program.
Lucas was born in Carlton, Melbourne in 2006 and was introduced to firearms at a very young age. From hunting with his dad to now competing on the international stage, shooting has always held a significant place in his life. Growing up, Lucas participated in a wide range of sports including basketball, motorbike riding, football, and shooting. However, by the age of 12, he discovered his strongest passion was in shooting and decided to focus solely on pursuing a career in competitive shooting.
Lucas’ first clay target competition was with his high school, Lavalla Catholic College, where his spark of interest quickly grew into a love for the sport. What began as trips to his local gun club, only 20 minutes from home, soon expanded into travelling across the country for competitions.
He first began competing in Down the Line, travelling around Australia to gain valuable insight and understanding of the competitive environment. He also formed new friendships along the way and thoroughly enjoyed his time in the discipline.
In later years, Lucas was advised that to pursue his Olympic dream and compete internationally, he would need to transition to Olympic Trap. After discussions with his personal coach, Andrew Brady, he made the decision to switch disciplines. He also began competing in Universal Trench, which opened up opportunities to travel overseas and compete against some of the world’s best.
In 2022, Lucas’ dream became a reality when he was selected for the Universal Trench World Championships Junior Team. Travelling to Italy was a surreal experience, and competing in a new environment gave him a deeper understanding of the commitment and effort required to perform at the top level. With the support of his teammates, Lucas proudly secured a junior team gold medal.
In 2023, another opportunity arose when Lucas was selected for the ISSF Junior World Championships Team to compete in Changwon, South Korea. Although he did not perform to his expectations, the experience was invaluable and provided important lessons for future competitions. Later that year, at the Universal Trench World Championships, Lucas placed 3rd in the junior category and also won another junior team gold medal.
Lucas is now studying a Bachelor of Laws at Monash University, where he hopes to pursue a career in the legal field. Alongside his studies, he remains dedicated to his sport and intends to continue competing in domestic and international events, with the ultimate goal of representing Australia at the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
“Being awarded the SAHOF Scholarship is an incredible honour, and I am excited for the opportunities it will bring. I look forward to connecting with and learning from Australia’s elite athletes, as well as gaining insights that will inspire and guide my own sporting journey. I am also grateful for the financial support, which will ease the significant costs of training, travel, and shooting equipment. This scholarship represents a chance to grow both as an athlete and as a person, and I am eager to make the most of it.” – Lucas Furlan on being selected as a 2026 Scholarship recipient
Honours & Achievements
- Universal Trench World Championships 2023 – 3rd Place Individual Junior
- Universal Trench World Championships 2023 – Team Junior Gold
- ISSF National, Perth 2023 – Commonwealth Junior Winner
- National Universal Trench Championships 2023 – Junior Winner, 4th Overall (Senior)
- Roberto Scalzone Tribute Cup 2025 – 8th Overall
Social Links | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_lucasfurlan_/
