World Shooting Championships: Meet Matt Emmons

MUNICH, GER. (July 30, 2010)

Meet Matt Emmons...although, this rifle shooter certainly needs no introduction. Emmons is a member of the 2010 World Shooting Championships Rifle Team and the current top-ranked Men's 50m Rifle 3 Position athlete. Not to mention, he is also a top-ten shooter in Men's 50m Rifle Prone. In addition to those two events, Emmons will also be shooting the Men's 10m Air Rifle event in Munich. His air competition will take place tomorrow and concludes on Wednesday, August 4th with the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Position event.

Not only is he currently one of the world's top rifle shooters, Emmons also holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and an MBA from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Like many talented rifle athletes, during his time at UAF, Emmons was a member of the Nanooks rifle team. He advises junior shooters to, "Make sure that you love what you do. Hard days of training don't seem so hard when you love it. After that, learn as much as you possibly can about all aspects of your sport. Be a student of it. Lastly, be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day and shooting has a lot to do with experience, which simply takes time." Wise words from a three-time World Cup gold medalist in Men's 50m Rifle 3 Position. Did I mention that all three gold medals were from the World Cup competitions he attended in 2010?

A native of Browns Mills, N.J., Emmons was also a 2004 and 2008 Olympic medalist. Winning a gold medal in Men's 50m Rifle Prone in 2004 and a silver medal four years later in the same event, Emmons is familiar with the pressure and demands of competition. Emmons and his wife (Czech Republic Olympic medalist) Katy, often practice air rifle in the basement of their house in Minn. Both train smallbore rifle at the Minnesota Shooting Sports Education Center. Emmons shoots a Anschutz 2013 (smallbore) and Anschutz 8002 for air rifle.

Not only a talented athlete, Emmons also enjoys hunting. He grew up hunting whitetail deer and rabbits in N.J., shot caribou, moose, sheep, and grouse in Alaska, and continues to expand his hunting resume. Emmons even bagged two impalas, two warthogs, and a kudu on a South African safari. When he is not on the range, hunting, or at home with the family, Emmons enjoys cross country skiing, running, and cycling. He also enjoys sampling cuisine all over the world--especially wine, Czech or Italian food, and wild game. Good luck Matt Emmons!

[ Back ]