Josh Olson-Paralympic Athlete

[Hap Rocketto]

Josh Olson shot a 595X600 to finish in 28th place in the Mixed R3-10m Air Rifle Prone-SH1 competition at the 2012 Paralympics in London.

In a conversation at Camp Perry in late July Olsen spoke of just how difficult this event can be to win. To that point the top eight finishers at the Paralympics all equaled the Word Record of 600X600 and the next six scores were all 599X600. It takes little imagination to realize the difficulty of the event when one needs to be perfect just to get into the shoot-offs! The finals will be held later today.

A relative newcomer to competitive shooting he has developed rapidly. Olsen joined the Army Marksmanship Unit in June of 2005, as an international rifle shooter/instructor after losing his right leg in an ambush Oct. 27, 2003, in the northern Iraqi town of Telafar.

Olson is first active-duty service member to be nominated to the U.S. Paralympics Team and one of 20 U.S. military veterans and active duty service members competing in the games.

Olson will next compete in the 60 shot 22 caliber 50 meter prone event Tuesday, September 4, 2012.