Athlete to Watch: Ian Rupert The sport’s smallest disci-
pline created the biggest impact in 2013. Be thankful and ap- preciate the luxury of depth that currently resides at USA Shoot- ing with a Double Trap team comprised of Olympic and World Champions, Olympians and for- midable juniors ready to make that next step. The future is now for one junior as shown in 2013. Ian Rupert started his season by winning a World Cup bronze in Acapulco, Mexico and he con- cluded it by rising to the top as a Junior World Champion. He’s established himself as a factor in a fi eld heavy with contend- ers. We caught up with Rupert in between hunting trips as he un- winds from a long, but ultimately successful shooting season.
What has been the secret to your success in 2013? I can confi dently say that
shooting several thousand rounds per week defi nitely didn’t hurt, but I think it was more on the mental side for me. The 2013 season was a huge building year for me. I learned how to train to win but also how to want to win. Obviously everyone wants to win, but this year I learned it takes much more than just wanting it. Before every compe- tition that I excelled at, I could feel it before the competition even began. I also learned there is much more to training than just shoot- ing. I perfected a training plan that fi ts my needs and helps me to stay on track.
Did you foresee the re- sults that you have achieved coming so quickly? I did foresee my achieve-
ments coming, but I wouldn’t say it was quick by any means. There is no quick way to the top. It takes time and effort to be able to shoot the world-class scores needed to compete in our coun- try.
How did you get started in the sport? I started with hunting, then
shooting ATA style targets. Shortly after I started shooting clay tar- gets, I started excelling and my father felt that he could no longer coach me be- cause I was get- ting past his level of knowledge. We had
read about a new “Olympic facil- ity” that was located less than 20 minutes from my house and found out it was open to the public every Sunday. So that next Sunday my father and I went and met Les Greevy. Shortly after be- ing there and shooting all the disciplines, I was set on double trap.
Who has helped you get to where you are today? Several people have helped
me tremendously. I would defi - nitely have to say that my par- ents’ fi nancial and moral sup- port have brought me a long way. But without the coaching from Les Greevy, Todd Graves, Dwayne Weger, and Lloyd Woodhouse there is no way I would be where I am today.
Your discipline is ex- tremely deep with so many quality Double Trap shooters. What are you going to have to do in the years ahead to stand apart from the pack? Double trap is a very diffi cult
sport just for that reason. Many people think it is really easy be- cause we are the smallest disci- pline, but we also have six or so of the best double trap shooters in the world. In the near future, I am going to have to train quite a bit and keep a strong mental game. This sport is all about your mental game and that will make the difference between a win and a loss.
What’s been your great- est experience to date in the sport? My greatest experience to
date would be Acapulco 2013 World Cup. It was my fi rst World Cup medal and that feel- ing shows why we all do this. It makes all the hard work and tons of hours worth it.
Photo by: Marco Dalla Dea/ISSF Year in Review 2013 | USA Shooting News 19
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