Pantone 289 Pantone 289 - CMYK C-100 M-60 Y-0 K-56 Pantone 186 Pantone 186 - CMYK C-0 M-100 Y-81 K-4 O LY M P I C T E A M F O R S H O O T I N G Men s 50m Free Pistol Men s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men s 10m Air Pistol Women s 25m Pistol Women s 10m Air Pistol 26 USA Shooting News Olympic Preview Issue 2012
PistolPreview Pistol Team Poised for Medals in London The pistol athletes that will represent the USA in the 2012 Olympic Games are perhaps the strongest pistol team to ever don the Red, White and Blue. Over the past four years, these six athletes have amassed 11 World Cup and World Cup Final medals and appeared in 25 finals. That s not to mention the four 2011 Pan American Games medals and five appearances in the finals from Guadalajara, Mexico. I m excited about the talent of our 2012 pistol Olympians, said National Pistol Coach Sergey Luzov. Every athlete has the potential to win a medal, and we will do our best to bring home top performances. Returning 2008 Men s 10m Air Pistol bronze medalist Jason Turner looks to watch the Stars and Stripes rise above the rest. In 2008, Turner was awarded his bronze after the medal ceremony when North Korean Kim Jong Su tested positive for propranolol. Though his teammates honored him at the USA House, Turner is eager to return and prove his readiness. 1996 Men s Rapid Fire Pistol Olympic silver medalist Emil Milev brings the experience of four Olympic Games, previously shooting for Bulgaria. For this physical education teacher from Tampa, another Olympic Team wasn t something he planned on when he moved to the USA in 2003. I was thinking after 2007, I will stop [shooting] and this will be it, said Milev. But I like shooting and I kept coming to Nationals and kept practicing from time to time and slowly my results improved and it all just happened. Two athletes on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team hail from the U.S. Army s World Class Athlete Program and train full-time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center: Daryl Szarenski and Keith Sanderson. Both Szarenski (three-time Olympian), and Sanderson (2008 Olympian) earned five international medals from the World Cup series in the past four years. Moreover, in Szarenski s two events Men s 50m Free Pistol and Men s 10m Air Pistol he qualified for an impressive 11 finals. Sanderson, the current owner of the Olympic Men s Rapid Fire Pistol qualification record at 583 points, is hungry for a medal. He missed the medal stand by just 2.8 points in Beijing with difficulty in the final; however, the new finals format (points earned through hits) should prove interesting on the Olympic stage. First-time Olympians Nick Mowrer and Sandra Uptagrafft may not have the five-ring experience yet, but their performances of late indicate a state of preparation second to none. Mowrer, the 2011 Men s 50m Free Pistol Champion, made the final at the 2011 ISSF World Cup Milan by tying his personal best of 562 points. The past two years, his scores have continued to increase under the direction of Luzov. Uptagrafft, who fought for her Olympic spot the past 16 years, finally earned her berth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Smallbore in Fort Benning, Ga. Her husband, Eric, will also be joining her in London as a member of the rifle team. And it couldn t get more perfect as they will celebrate their anniversary just two days after completing their events in London. She will shoot for the USA in both Women s 25m Sport Pistol and Women s 10m Air Pistol. RIFLE Preview Photo Scott Brownell, Cabela s First-time Olympian Nick Mowrer is catching the attention of the pistol world. After moving to the U.S. Olympic Training Center three years ago, Mowrer s scores have steadily risen to a world-class level through hard work earning the honor of Olympian. Mowrer set a personal best at the 2011 National Championships in Men s 50m Free Pistol and has continued to push the barrier, making his first ISSF World Cup final in Milan in May. Olympic Preview Issue 2012 USA Shooting News 27
Daryl Szarenski Men s 10m Air Pistol Men s 50m Free Pistol Date of Birth: 03/14/1968 hometown: Seale, Ala. birthplace: Saginaw, Mich. firearm: TTOZ (Free) and Steyr (Air) 2012 World Cup London, 7th Place (Free) 2011 Pan American Games, Silver Medalist (Free) 2011 Pan American Games, Gold Medalist (Air) 2010 World Cup Final, Gold Medalist (Free) 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic Team Member Sergeant First Class Daryl Szarenski of the U.S. Army s World Class Athlete Program began shooting in 1979 when his father enrolled him in a junior shooting program. He studied Industrial Technology at Tennessee Tech University on a rifle scholarship, where he was a member of both the pistol and rifle teams. Away from the range, Daryl enjoys fishing, sailing and raising his own beef. He is married to Amy, a former member of the National Pistol Team. They have two children that are also involved in the shooting sports: Hannah and Luke. Photo Tom Kimmell 28 USA Shooting News Olympic Preview Issue 2012
P OLYMPIC TEAM Jason Turner Men s 10m Air Pistol Date of Birth: 01/31/1975 hometown: Rochester, NY birthplace: Rochester, NY firearm: Morini 2012 National Championships, Gold Medalist 2008 Olympic Games, Bronze Medalist 2007 Pan American Games, Gold Medalist 2007 National Championship, Gold Medalist 2004 Olympian Jason shot competitively at the Rochester Rifle Club from 1987 1996. He shot rifle for four years before switching to pistol. He spends his free time playing softball and golf. In addition to his role as a Resident Athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Jason also works at a popular restaurant as a bartender. In the future, Jason would like to be a shooting coach or work in professional sports. After his bronze medal in Beijing, Jason was honored by his hometown of Rochester, N.Y., with both the Key to the City and distinction of Rochester Athlete of the Year. A fan of the New York Yankees and Buffalo Bills, this All-American athlete also enjoys a rare ribeye as his favorite food. Photo Tom Kimmell Olympic Preview Issue 2012 USA Shooting News 29
Sandra Uptagrafft Women s 10m Air Pistol Women s 25m Sport Pistol Date of Birth: 04/12/1971 hometown: Phenix City, Ala. birthplace: Singapore firearm: Feinwerkbau (Air and Sport) 2011 Pan American Games, Silver Medalist (Sport) 2011 Pan American Games, Bronze Medalist (Air) 2011 National Championships, Silver Medalist (Air), Gold Medalist (Sport) 2010 World Championship, 8th Place (Air) 2007 Pan American Games, Gold Medalist (Sport) Petty Officer First Class Sandra Uptagrafft is a member of the Navy Reserves and specializes in information technology. She is married to 1996 and 2012 Olympian Eric Uptagrafft, a member of the Olympic Rifle Team. Presumed to be the first husband and wife duo of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, Sandra and Eric will also celebrate their wedding anniversary while in London. Sandra trains at the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in Fort Benning, Ga. Sandra was on deployment in 2010 with her Seabee unit, Third Naval Construction Regiment in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Sandra is learning to play the guitar and expanding her drawing skills she admits to being hooked on the app Draw Something. 30 USA Shooting News Olympic Preview Issue 2012 Photo Dan Shirey
Nick Mowrer Men s 50m Free Pistol Date of Birth: 09/14/1988 hometown: Miles City, Mont. firearm: Morini birthplace: Butte, Mont. 2012 National Championships, Silver Medalist (Free) 2012 World Cup Milan, 8th Place (Free) 2011 National Championships, Gold Medalist (Free) 2011 Pan American Games, 6th Place (Free) 2010 Championships of the Americas, 5th Place (Air), 9th Place (Free) 2008 National Junior Olympic Championships, Gold Medalist (Free & Air) Nick grew up shooting with his parents and developed a love for the sport. His mother, Zona, worked with a man who introduced Nick to NRA Highpower rifle competition. In the winter, Nick also participated in NRA Bullseye Pistol Leagues, and found his niche. He was the fourtime aggregate Collegiate Pistol Champion in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012. He was the NRA National Rifle Junior Champion in Camp Perry, Ohio in 2008. He grew up hunting and fishing in Montana and also participated in competitive baseball. Nick was also on the Montana All-Star baseball team in 2000. Photo Tom Kimmell Olympic Preview Issue 2012 USA Shooting News 33
Keith Sanderson Men s Rapid Fire Pistol Date of Birth: 02/02/1975 hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo. birthplace: Plymouth, Mass. firearm: Pardini 2011 World Cup Final Wroclaw, Bronze Medalist 2011 World Cup Changwon, Silver Medalist 2009 World Cup Beijing, Gold Medalist 2008 Olympic Games, 5th Place 2005 Military Rapid Fire World Champion Sergeant First Class Keith Sanderson started shooting in 1996 in Marine Corps matches. He spent eight years in the Marine Corps and eight years in the U.S. Army and was the Chief Marksmanship Instructor for Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Keith is currently a member of the U.S. Army s World Class Athlete Program. Keith won an unprecedented three medals (one gold, one silver and one bronze) in three World Cups in 2009. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Sanderson shot a new Olympic match record score of 583 points to lead the field headed into the final. After a disappointing final, he finished fifth overall. Sanderson has been on top of his Game this quadrennial and is ready to return to London for another shot at the podium. 34 USA Shooting News Olympic Preview Issue 2012 Photo Tom Kimmell
Emil Milev Men s Rapid Fire Pistol Date of Birth: 05/02/1968 hometown: Tampa, Fla. birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria firearm: Pardini 2012 World Cup Milan, 4th Place 2011 Pan American Games, Gold Medalist 2011 World Cup Munich, Bronze Medalist 2011 National Championship, Gold Medalist 2000 and 2004 Olympian 1996 Olympic Games, Silver Medalist Emil Milev began shooting in 1984, practicing air pistol in Levski, one of the biggest sports clubs in Bulgaria. He has been married to his wife, Anina, since 1991, and has two children, Alexa and Philip. The Milevs moved to the USA in 2004. He is a physical education teacher at B.T. Washington Elementary School. In 2010, Emil and his personal coach, (also Assistant National Pistol Coach) Vladimir Chichkov, established Pardini USA, LLC for sales, service and development of sports pistols and ammunition. Emil is also a member of the Shooting Academy Pardini USA. When asked who he most admires, he responded with every American soldier out fighting for our freedom. Photo Vladimir Chichkov Olympic Preview Issue 2012 USA Shooting News 35