02-18-2006, 02:24 AM
davester;
If you've ever done any competitive shooting, you'd be even MORE impressed...
Hitting the targets they do with their heart rate and respiration still going full-blast from the skiing is an incredible feat!
Also consider that since it's a shooting sport, the participants get pretty much ZERO off year support or recognition. Except for the olympics and a very few international competitions, these women (and men in the mens biathalon) train alone.
There are no crowds.
No spectators.
Their names are never in their local paper... not even below the standings of the local Jr High School football scores.
You might want to consider donating a few dollars to the national governing body for the Biathalon.
And, come the next summer games... you might want to watch the Indoor 3 and 4 position rifle competition.. Not nearly so athletic, but the amount of concentration the shooters put in is palpable.
If you've ever done any competitive shooting, you'd be even MORE impressed...
Hitting the targets they do with their heart rate and respiration still going full-blast from the skiing is an incredible feat!
Also consider that since it's a shooting sport, the participants get pretty much ZERO off year support or recognition. Except for the olympics and a very few international competitions, these women (and men in the mens biathalon) train alone.
There are no crowds.
No spectators.
Their names are never in their local paper... not even below the standings of the local Jr High School football scores.
You might want to consider donating a few dollars to the national governing body for the Biathalon.
And, come the next summer games... you might want to watch the Indoor 3 and 4 position rifle competition.. Not nearly so athletic, but the amount of concentration the shooters put in is palpable.