The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program has two more Soldier-athletes qualified for the 2021 Summer Olympic Games, 1st Lt. Amber English and Sgt. Nick Mowrer.
The 2020 Summer Olympics have been postponed to the summer of 2021 due to COVID-19. All athletes that have qualified still hold their spot on the team according to the International Olympic Committee.
Mowrer won first place in the 10-meter Air Pistol at the Air Pistol Olympic Trials in Fort Benning, Georgia, March 2, earning him a spot on the 2021 U.S. Olympic Shooting Team.
“This feels really good,” said Mowrer. “I can’t wait to go to Tokyo. I get to represent America, but representing the entire Army as a whole and the military forces is a true honor.”
Mowrer said being in the Army helps him compete because marksmanship is really important when it comes to being a Soldier.
“Everything that the Army preaches comes out in a day of shooting,” said Mowrer. “You can’t lie to yourself; you’ve got to be honest. Everything it takes to be successful in the Army is what it takes to be successful in my sport.”
Mowrer joined the Army in 2012 and enjoys WCAP because of the competitive environment and the focused mission.
The trials were the most difficult competition for Mowrer because of the uncertainty, but he felt seasoned and ready because he has competed in a few trials prior to this one.
“There is a lot rising on mission success and now I feel like I can breathe easier,” said Mowrer. “This was harder than the actual games itself, not for lack of competition but the mental side of it. I was happy that I was able to allow myself to do that and stick to the process.”
Mowrer mentioned that he is very happy with his progression and performance leading up to the trials. He now plans to train and prepare for his next Olympic trials, the rifle.
English, who has been shooting since she was a child, qualified in shotgun at the Shotgun Olympic trials in Tucson, Arizona, March 8, after shooting a perfect score in six of the 10 rounds.
“When they called my name I was so overwhelmed,” said English. “Those four days were very stressful. There were some of the greatest shooters in the world, so I could not be happier to be on this team.”
English comes from a long line of family shooting competitors. She said sports have been in her family since she could remember.
Her father and uncle were both U.S. Running Target National Team members and Olympic Training Center resident athletes. Her mother and Aunt Kim had been members of one of America’s top collegiate rifle programs.
English’s dad passed away suddenly after the 2016 Olympic trials but English knows her dad would have been proud of her making the team.
“He would have cried,” said English. “He always said to believe in myself, stay positive and I can make it happen.”
English, who commissioned in 2017, said the Army has helped her in her shooting career just as much as shooting has helped her in the Army.
“Based on the Army’s training I have learned patience and how to go with the flow,” said English. “The Army taught me about teamwork, sacrifice and how to push through.”
Also a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, English is thrilled to represent the Army at the games in Tokyo.
“This is something you can’t put into words,” said English. “I am very excited. I haven’t been able to represent the Army before. It’s a very patriot and exciting feeling.”
English enjoys WCAP because of the sense of family.
“It is a smaller unit and everyone is close,” said English. “It is refreshing because they all have goals bigger than themselves. They are great Soldiers and athletes.”
English is giving her body a break, then plans to continue training for the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
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