Intense competitors, both Eric Hollen and Josh Olson certainly desired better results in the end. But as the shooting competition came to a close at the 2012 Paralympic Games and the Royal Artillery Barracks, success can’t be measured by medals alone. Results aside, Hollen and
Olson showcased ability over disability and by virtue of their participation they’ll leave an
indelible impact on the shooting sports and more so the lives of many more.
Hollen rolled off the line on
Sept. 6 with a 23rd place finish in the 50-meter Free Pistol event after a round of 499/600. He finished in 14th place in the air pistol event earlier in the Games.
A tractor accident stripped
Hollen of his ability to walk leav- ing him depressed, panicked
and alone—a shadow of his old self as a former Ranger in the U.S. Army. Sport, shooting and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs changed all that. For Eric, the conquest to be among the shooting elite has only just begun. Olson meanwhile finished 28th in the Mixed 10m Prone Air Rifle event and followed that up with a 12th place finish in Mixed 50m Prone Rifle. Nine
years ago a rocket-propelled grenade nearly claimed Olson’s life after being struck by it while on patrol with his unit (101st Airborne division third brigade 1/187) in Afghanistan. While it did take his right leg, it certainly didn’t strip the first active duty soldier ever to compete in the Paralympic Games of his will, motivation and commitment to his country.
Top left: Paralympians Josh Olson and Eric Hollen along with Paralympic coach Bob Foth will go down in history for the doors they opened in creat- ing USA Shooting’s first Paralympic program. Photo Bob Long Top right: Josh Olson made Paralympic history by becoming the first active- duty soldier to compete. Photo Bob Foth
Bottom: Eric Hollen prepares for his Paralympic debut during official train- ing at the Royal Artillery Barracks. Photo Bob Foth