While the USA has a good chance at some of the 2008 Olympic Shooting events, many of the world's top shooters "ain't from around here." Here's a look at some of the top Olympic Shooting contenders, who seem to have a better-than-average chance of toting home a medal from Beijing.
1. Walton Glenn Eller III - USA - Men's Shotgun (Double Trap)
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army
Glenn Eller has been winning big since age 12, and his 2000 and 2004 Olympic experiences, together with a couple years with the USAMU, may be just what he needs to make it big in Beijing, after he neatly secured first place at the Olympic Double Trap shooting trials...
2. Jeffrey "Jeff" Holguin - USA - Men's Shotgun (Double Trap)
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps
Jeff Holguin joined the US Army's USAMU along with Glenn Eller in 2006, and that seems to have been just what he needed. He placed second at the 2008 Olympic trials for Double Trap...
3. Vincent Hancock - USA - Men's Shotgun (Skeet)
Photo courtesy of United States Olympic Committee
Young Vincent Hancock, born in 1989, was a world champion in skeet by age 16. This teenage world record holder expects to win in the 2008 Olympics, and it looks like his chances ain't bad at all...
4. Michael "Mike" Anti - USA - Men's Rifle
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army
Mike Anti has competed in Olympic shooting in 1992, 2004, and 2008. In 2004, he goofed along with Matt Emmons, allowing the Gold in Air Rifle to slip through the USA's hands. At least Mike got a medal for the event...
5. Matthew Emmons - USA - Men's Rifle & Air Rifle
Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Matt Emmons' Olympic past speaks well for his chances in 2008. He earned Gold in Prone Rifle at his 2004 Olympic debut, but lost a commanding lead in Air Rifle when he shot the wrong target...
6. Jason Parker - USA - Men's Rifle & Air Rifle
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army
Jason Parker first competed in the Olympics in 2004, when he placed 8th in Air Rifle and was hosed by a busted trigger at the smallbore trials. In 2008 he qualified to compete in both Men's 10m Air Rifle and Men's 3-Position Rifle...
7. Jamie Beyerle - USA - Women's Rifle
Photo courtesy of United States Olympic Committee
Jamie missed out on the 2004 Olympics when she failed to properly prepare for the trials, but in 2008 she rose to the challenge and earned first place in Women's 3-Position Rifle...
8. Katerina Emmons (nee Kurkova) - Czech Republic - Women's Rifle & Air Rifle
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Katerina married the USA's Matt Emmons (listed above) between the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, in which they both participated - both in rifle shooting events. Katerina won Olympic Bronze in 2004 in Women's Air Rifle...
9. Du Li - China - Women's Rifle & Air Rifle
Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images for DAGOC
China's Du Li held a world record in Women's Air Rifle until shortly before the 2008 Olympics, and she has won the Olympic Gold medal in that event before. In 2008 she is also a contender in 3 Position Rifle, and may have a home-court advantage...
10. Sonja Pfeilschifter - Germany - Women's Rifle & Air Rifle
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Going into the 2008 games with three previous Olympics under her belt, Sonja still had no medals... but not long before, she shattered the world record long held by Women's Air Rifle favorite Du Li of China...
