THIS WEEK: RIFLE SHOOTERS . . . With the 2012 Olympics just weeks away, the Firearms Gazette (courtesy of NSSF) each week will offer a brief look at the U.S. Olympic team shooters headed to London. This week are the rifle shooters.
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AMANDA FURRER . . . Event: Women's 50m Three-Position. Hometown: Spokane, Wash. Age: 21. Amanda first started shooting at 11 years old as member of the Spokane Junior Rifle Team. At the age of 16 she qualified for the national team as a member of the 2007 Pan American Team. Amanda is currently a student in The Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University majoring in Finance and competing on the Rifle Team. Follow Amanda on Twitter @Amanda_Furrer.
Meet Amanda and learn more about three-position rifle shooting.
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ERIC UPTAGRAFFT . . . Event: Men's 50m Rifle Prone. Hometown: Phenix City, Ala. Age: 46. Sgt. First Class Eric Uptagrafft has been a member of the National Team for nearly 20 years. Eric graduated from West Virginia University, Suma Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. As part of the Navy Reserves, he was deployed to Kuwait in January of 2007 for seven months. Eric is currently a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and in the summer of 2011 he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
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MATT EMMONS . . . Event: Men's 50m Three-Position. Hometown: Browns Mills, N.J. Age: 31. Matt first began shooting competitively in high school after FBI firearms instructor Paul Adamowski invited him to give the sport a try. Emmons took home a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics and silver in 2008 both in the men's prone event. He will compete in both the men's three-position and men's air rifle events in London.
Watch and learn more about Matt Emmons.
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JAMIE (BEYERLE) GRAY . . . Event: Women's 50m Three-Position. Hometown: Lebanon, Pa. Age: 28. Jamie got her start in shooting when she began with a BB gun program at the age of eight. She graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and shot for its nationally renowned rifle team. She is currently the technical coach for the Columbus State University Rifle Team. Gray's long list of accomplishments includes multiple national championships in three-position and a 4th place finish in the 2008 Olympic Games. Follow Jamie on Twitter @Grayolympics
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MICHAEL McPHAIL . . . Event: Men's 50m Rifle Prone. Hometown: Darlington, Wis. Age: 31. 2011 Pan American Games Gold Medalist, Sgt. Michael McPhail began shooting at age 16. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, and is currently stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., as part of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. In his spare time, Michael enjoys bird hunting and fishing.
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JASON PARKER . . . Event: Men's 50m Three-Position. Hometown: Omaha, Neb. Age: 38. Sgt. First Class Jason Parker began shooting in 1988 and joined the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in 1997 after graduating from Xavier University. This will be Parkers fourth Olympic appearance. He competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics in men's air rifle and at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in both air rifle and three-position.
All photos and text courtesy of USA Shooting.
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