(GunReports.com) — Twenty U.S. Olympic Team shooters have begun their journeys to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. With just days left until the Opening Ceremony, here’s a brief look at the shotgun shooters.
- KIM RHODE . . . Event: Women’s Skeet and Trap. Hometown: El Monte, Calif. Age: 32. Kim got her competitive start in American Skeet at the age of 10. After winning the World Championship at age 13, she became captain of the All-American Team. This opened the door to the Olympic style of International Double Trap and International Skeet. She has captured 13 National Championship gold medals since making the National Team in 1995. Kim’s career also includes 26 medals in international competitions including four Olympic medals. Follow her on Twitter @KimRhode.
- JOSHUA RICHMOND . . . Event: Men’s Double Trap. Hometown:Hillsgrove, Pa. Age: 26. Staff Sgt. Joshua Richmond is among the leading Men’s Double Trap shooters in the world and is a serious contender for the 2012 Olympic podium. He fired his first shot out of a shotgun at the age of 5 and began shooting competitively at the age of 11. Josh is currently a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in Ft. Benning, Ga. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaRichmond4.
- VINCENT HANCOCK . . . Event: Men’s Skeet. Hometown: Eatonton, Ga. Age: 23. Sgt. Vincent Hancock started competing when he was 11 years old and holds several national records in Men’s Skeet. In 2005, at the young age of 16, Vincent won his first World Championship title in Men’s Skeet and went on to win the prestigious International Shooting Sport Federation’s Shooter of the Year award. He is currently a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in Ft. Benning, Ga. Follow him on Twitter @Vincent_hancock.
- COREY COGDELL . . . Event: Women’s Trap. Hometown: Eagle River, Alaska Age: 25. Corey grew up hunting with her father and eventually joined the 4-H program to develop her trap shooting skills. After shooting for only a few years she made the National Development Team in 2006 at Fall Selection when she placed first in the Junior Women’s Trap competition. That same day, she made the National Team when her score also placed her third in the Women’s Trap competition. In her first international competition, the 2007 Changwon World Cup, Cogdell captured the bronze medal. Shortly after, Cogdell captured the bronze at the 2007 Pan American Games. In August of 2008, Corey won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Corey is currently a Resident Athlete at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Follow her on Twitter @CoreyCogdell.
- FRANK THOMPSON . . . Event: Men’s Skeet. Hometown: Alliance, Neb. Age: 24. With a little help from his dad, Frank got his start in shooting when he was 10 years old. Frank honed his skills through the sporting clays programs and made the National Development Team in 2006. He has been a Resident Athlete at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs since 2006. He attends the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, majoring in Business and will graduate in 2011.
- GLENN ELLER . . . Event: Double Trap. Hometown: Houston, Texas Age: 30. In 1996, Glenn was the first American to win the prestigious British Opening Sporting Clay title. He began shooting at 8 years old under the direction of Jay Herbert. He has also trained with Olympian Dan Carlisle. Glenn enjoys hunting, golf and was also involved in track in high school. Sergeant Glenn Eller is currently a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit stationed in Ft. Benning, Ga. Follow him on Twitter@wgeller3.
