FORT BENNING, Ga., (April 27, 2016) -- Sgt. 1st Class James Henderson, Staff Sgts. George Norton, Greg Markowski, and Spec. Daniel Lowe of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, are headed to the 2016 USA Shooting Air Olympic Trials June 3-6 at Camp Perry, Ohio, in the hopes of securing the final air pistol seat and two air rifle seats on the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team.
"It's bittersweet, because I was hoping to come out of the Smallbore Trials knowing I'm on the Olympic Team," said Norton, who won the men's three-position rifle event.
Although Norton won the event April 8 in the final three days of the 2016 USAS Smallbore Olympic Trials, he must wait until the Air Olympic Trials to find out whether he will get a chance to not only compete in the air rifle event in Rio, but also to compete in the men's three-position rifle event. If Norton wins one of the Olympic air rifle quotas, he can then compete in both three-position and air rifle at the Olympics.
Norton, an Albuquerque, New Mexico, native, said he is going to spend a lot of time training to ensure he gets one of the two quotas in June.
"Even though we have the selection match coming up for air rifle, I need to keep three-position on par, so it's going to be a lot of hours on the range," he said.
Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker, International Team coach and a four-time international rifle Olympian, said he is happy with the results of the recent trials.
"I was very pleased with the way the trials went, especially with Sergeant Norton winning the three-position trial - that was fantastic," Parker said. "Sergeant Norton and Specialist Lowe have excellent chances of making the (Olympic Shooting) Team. I've seen the scores they can shoot, and they are very capable of making the Team."
Another triple threat like Norton, Lowe, is ranked 6th nationally in men's air gun after the 2015 Winter Air Gun championships in December, while Norton is ranked ninth.
Lowe will be training heavily for the Air Olympic Trials in the weeks leading up to it.
"Air gun can get very tedious for me, because it is very easy to shoot five to seven matches in a day, and it's hard to give 100 percent in each of those matches," he said. "It takes a lot of mental energy for me."
Overall, maintaining three separate shooting sports - men's three position, 50-meter prone and men's air gun - is physically and mentally challenging, Lowe said.
"It's a balancing act," he said. "Each event comes with its own challenges, and they all take a lot of mental energy - it's about finding ways to mix it up, keep it fresh and keep going."
Lowe, of Federal Way, Washington, said he spends his off time in outdoor pursuits, such as sailing to stay mentally refreshed.
Parker, of Omaha, Nebraska, also believes either Henderson or Markowski is poised to make the air pistol team.
"We are going to do everything we can to put them in the best possible situation to make the Team," he said.
Henderson won an Olympic quota for the United States at the International Shooting Sport Federation USA World Cup here last May and a silver medal during the 2015 USAS National Championships for Rifle and Pistol here last summer.
The Pasadena, California, native plans to work on consistency and specific marksmanship fundamentals for the Air Olympic Trials. He said having the opportunity to work with world-class athletes, including USAMU and USA Shooting teammates also improves his game.
"(Markowski) is a heck of a shooter, so it's good to shoot next to him," said Henderson. "It's also nice to have different people to train with, so going to Colorado to train or having some of the national team come here always helps."
Henderson also said that being a part of the USAMU is the best job in the Army.
"I couldn't imagine wanting to be anywhere else, especially as a shooter; it just doesn't get any better," he said.
Meanwhile, Markowski said he will continue to train, but not just physically.
"I feel that I need to prepare mentally to expect to get that one spot," he said.
According to Markowski there is a lot of pressure to compete and succeed, and that is why he retreats to a place in his mind to help suppress the pressure.
"My wife and little one are on the beach, my little one is running away and (my wife) is chasing her while I enjoy the view," he said, describing his mental retreat.
Markowski, originally form Sycow, Moscow, has been living in the United States for 17 years. He joined the Army in 2009 and began shooting with the USAMU after completing Basic Combat Training and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Benning.
Markowski started shooting when he was 15, and before coming to the United States, he was the 1990 Polish Junior Championships Free Pistol Gold Medalist and Polish record holder; 1991 and 1992 Polish Junior Championships Air Pistol Gold Medalist; 1992 Polish Junior Championships Free Pistol Silver Medalist and 1993 Polish Junior Championships Free Pistol Silver Medalist.
Additionally, he was a 1991 European Junior Championships Free Pistol Team Gold Medalist, and he placed ninth in the 1991 World Cup Zurich free pistol event.
Markowski was not shooting competitively when he first came to the United States, but said he joined the Army so he could train and compete in good facilities with good coaches and continue to do what he loves.
By competing on the world stage in international shooting competitions, Norton, Lowe, Henderson and Markowski clearly showcase the direct correlation that exists between the desire for excellence, physical discipline, mental agility and training it takes to be a U.S. Soldier and a world class athlete.
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