FAIRBANKS – For the fourth consecutive summer games, former Alaska Nanook shooter Matt Emmons will be representing the United States of America in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, which get kicked off today. Emmons will participate in the 50 meter three-position shooting event, with the qualifying round slated for Sunday, Aug. 14 at 4:00 a.m. AKT.
Emmons, who was an Alaska Nanooks shooter from 1999-2003, makes his fourth Olympic appearance in Rio after previously participating in the Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) and London (2012) games. The Mount Holly, New Jersey native has had nothing short of a controversial career, after winning a gold medal in the men's 50 meter prone event with a borrowed gun in the 2004 games after discovering his own rifle had been sabotaged. The rifle Emmons won gold with was in fact former Alaska Nanooks shooter Amber Jordan's- who is also the wife of former Alaska rifle shooter and head coach Dan Jordan.
In Beijing, Emmons represented the U.S. once again in the men's 50m prone event and the men's 50m three-position event. Emmons captured a silver medal in the prone event but faced adversity once more in the 50m three-position. With a commanding 3.3 point lead over second place, Emmons had one shot left when he accidentally fired his gun and scored a 4.4, placing him fourth overall.
In the 2012 London games, Emmons captured the bronze medal in the 50m three-position, the same event he will be donning the red, white and blue for in the upcoming games in Rio.
Emmons remains the most decorated shooter in Alaska rifle history, capturing four NCAA National Championships with the Alaska Nanooks in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Additionally, Emmons recorded four individual NCAA National Championships in both smallbore (2001, 2002 & 2003) and air rifle (2001).
Furthermore, Emmons was an eight-time NCAA First-Team All-America selection in both smallbore and rifle in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. He was inducted into the Nanook Hall of Fame in September 2008.
On Sunday, Emmons will face off against 44 other athletes from 26 countries in the men's 50m three-position. Also representing the United States in the 50m three-position will be 23 year-old Dan Lowe from Olympia, Washington, making his first Olympic appearance.
For more information on USA Shooting in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, click here.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks rifle team, follow @AlaskaNanooks on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Rifle team page on Facebook.
