2008 Olympic Games

Young Gun Finishes First Olympics With a Bang

Pvt. 1st Class Vincent Hancock didn’t know what to expect at his first-ever Olympic effort in skeet shooting, but he went on to earn his first gold medal over the weekend.

“I’ve been shooting ever since I was young and always dreamed of this moment, but for it to come true, it’s just, awesome!” said the 19-year-old from Eatonton, Ga. “And to do it as a Soldier makes it even better because my win represents what you can do when you’re part of something bigger than yourself.”

Hancock trains at Fort Benning, Ga., as a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU), which sent six shooters to Beijing. Fellow AMU member and Olympian, Spc. Glenn Eller, set an Olympic record at the Summer Games, securing gold in the double trap competition.

“By competing and winning on the world stage, AMU Soldiers highlight the strength, discipline and commitment it takes to be successful and help to raise the standards of marksmanship proficiency throughout the Army,” said unit commander Lt. Col. Frank Muggeo.

Since the AMU was established in 1956, its shooters have won 22 Olympic medals and more than 40 world championships.

To learn more about the U.S. Army athletes and training, visit http://www.armyathletesolympians.com/ .

Source: U.S. Army