USA Shooting's Responsibility In The Face of Scrutiny

[USA Shooting]

USA Shooting's Responsibility In The Face of Scrutiny

Athletes representing the USA Shooting Team are the shooting sports' best possible ambassadors.

As the gun debate lingers, the shooting sports community looks for ways to provide clarity and understanding to the opposition. USA Shooting, by its very nature, is drawn into the debate. CEO Robert Mitchell notes in the newest issue of USA Shooting News that if there’s any impact we can have it comes in the exemplary representation our athletes provide for the shooting sports. “The debate of what good can come from teaching citizens, particularly our youth, about responsible gun ownership simply begins and ends with the class, distinction and principles USA Shooting athletes nationwide embody each and every day.”

You can find the full letter in USA Shooting News, hitting your mailbox this month, or read it in the digital edition.

World Cup Acapulco Results

Vincent Hancock earned his eighth World Cup medal in Acapulco, taking home skeet gold and leading Team USA to second place out of the 27 countries attending.

In the season’s first International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup, held March 17–24 in Acapulco, Mexico, the USA Shooting Team finished second overall (out of 27 countries that attended). U.S. athletes won three medals including a gold for Vincent Hancock in Men’s Skeet, silver for Brian Burrows in Men’s Trap and bronze for Ian Rupert in Double Trap. In the end, nine of the 13 participating U.S. Team athletes finished in the top 10 of their events. Italy finished atop the medal standings with seven medals overall including two gold, two silver and three bronze. Great Britain ranked in third place.

National Team Head Coach Todd Graves says he plans to use 2013 to develop young shooters, giving them opportunities to compete on a world stage early in the quad. This season's first two World Cups will feature one of the top-two finishers from the Fall Selection Match plus one of the top-two finishers from the junior division in that competition. “These athletes earned their right by performing under pressure last fall,” Graves stated. “I feel it’s important to begin establishing depth in all our ranks."

Read our wrap-up including results for all U.S. athletes here.

Item of the Month: Under Armour Rush Backpack
April's item of the month is the Under Armour Rush Backpack. Carry your stuff in style when you purchase this item for only $30 between now and April 5.

Also, we’re celebrating Spring’s arrival and the National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships (NJOSC) with blowout specials on special Under Armour merchandise. Select items are discounted more than 30%, so show your support of USA Shooting and the youth shooting sports now by purchasing today.

World's Oldest Olympian, Ever

Walter Walsh and the 1948 U.S. Olympic Pistol Team. (Photo courtesy of the Walsh family.)

Age was redefined last month when Walter Walsh, a 1948 Olympian in the sport of Shooting, became the oldest Olympian to have ever lived at 105 years and 321 days. Walsh was born May 4, 1907 in New Jersey and his life has been one of service, honor and accomplishment.
Walsh's incredible story includes everything from apprehending gangsters & participating in shootouts as a young FBI agent, to serving as a shooting instructor for the Marine Corps. He placed 12th in the Men's 50m Free Pistol at the 1948 Olympics and served as Team Leader at the 1972 Olympics, earning the respect of all the athletes with whom he traveled. USA Shooting celebrates the remarkable life of one of our country's finest athletes: Walter Walsh.

To learn more about Walsh's life and accomplishments, read this article on our website.

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