It’s easier to articulate success after an Olympic Games in which our athletes proved their skills against the World’s best in London. The four-medal performance is a testament to the fortitude of our athletes and coaches, a belief in a proven system of success and the strength inherent when individuality gives way to alliance. Radiating from the 2012 headlines are the four Olympic medalists as well as their 18 Olympic and Paralympic teammates who represented the shooting-sports industry with class and distinction. Beyond the large shadows cast by our medalists, is the understated significance of other noteworthy athletic performances, sponsor support, donor contributions and organizational changes. To paint a more complete picture of 2012, there are several noteworthy highlights that include:
Five World Cup (Tucson) medals including golds by Ryan Hadden and Corey Cogdell in Trap and Kim Rhode in Skeet. Twelve top-10 finishes and four medals earned at the 2012 London World Cup including a bronze medal for Kayle Browning, a career best for the young Arkansas trap shooter. Four medals overall and six
top-five finishes in ISSF World Cup Finals with Brandy Drozd earning her first World Cup medal in an overseas competition after picking up the silver medal in Women’s Skeet. An 1176shot by the National
Junior Team’s Ryan Anderson at the ISSF International Junior Championships in Suhl, Germany. It was the highest score shot by an American male in 3x40 in 2012. Hosting the first formal activity
of the U.S. Shooting Alumni Association with the first ever U.S. Shooting Team reunion at the Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs, July 6-8. The first-ever Shoot for Gold Fundraiser event raised $100,000 in support of the 2012
U.S. Olympic Team and helped showcase our sport to a national TV audience with our athletes teaching members of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders how to shoot. The addition of six new USA Shooting sponsors adding to USA Shooting’s spectrum of support that now includes 37 sponsors. The generosity of 18 special corporate supporters through in-kind donations that helped USA Shooting raise $105,000 through charity auctions on GunBroker. com. Support in excess of $1.3
million received through the USA Shooting Team Foundation. Conservation groups like Dallas Safari Club, Shikar Safari Club, Wild Sheep Foundation and Mule Deer Foundation providing extensive financial resources and promotional opportunities including the ability to host a foreign training camp prior to the London Games and the expansion of the International Shooting Center in Colorado Springs.
A valued partnership with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a long-time supporter, that provided national exposure to the Olympic shooting sports through a congratulatory full-page advertisement in USA Today. USA Shooting staff expansion
to create greater efficiencies in all areas including media, marketing and fundraising. As we reflect upon the year that was in this review, may you look upon the athletes highlighted with the admiration they deserve, pay tribute to the behind-the-scenes work of the families, members, volunteers, coaches, donors, sponsors and our staff that contribute to our great sport. We can take pride in our accomplishments as we also recognize the tremendous opportunities that lie before us.