Para Shooter Athlete of the Year
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:56 am
Finally, Eric Hollen (Johnson City, Tenn.) is the esteemed recipient of USA Shooting’s Paralympic Athlete of the Year. Hollen started off the year by winning the bronze medal at the 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Cup in Spain. In P4, the Mixed Free Pistol event, Hollen shot for 525 qualifying points and 90.5 points in the final for 615.5 total points and the bronze medal by a one-point margin. At the IPC World Shooting Championship, Hollen scored 559 points to finish in fourteenth place in a field of 57 competitors in P1 (Men’s Air Pistol SH1 event). His shining moment, however, came during the (Mixed Free Pistol event) where he won the prestigious “Fair Play Award.” In the match, Hollen accidentally fired a shot barely above the target while working on early trigger pressure during the approach. Unfortunately for Hollen, this occurred twice during the match as he fought with his trigger, yet he reported both incidents though it cost him 20 points. Interestingly enough, there was another competitor in the same match who tried to cover-up his misfire, yet the Range Officer saw the infraction. Hollen’s integrity and sportsmanship impressed the match officials so much that they awarded him the “Fair Play Award” at the end of the IPC World Shooting Championship. Though he may not have brought home a medal from that particular event, Hollen brought pride to his country as he was a prime example of good sportsmanship. Hollen finished his competition year with a fifth place finish at the IPC Shooting World Cup in Stoke Mandeville, England. In P1 (Men’s Air Pistol SH1 event), Hollen fired 550 qualifying points and 95.1 points in the final for 645.1 total points. USA Shooting would like to congratulate Eric Hollen on his excellent shooting and sportsmanship.
(from USA Shooting)
(from USA Shooting)