University of Alaska Alumnus Wins Olympic Medal in London

Alaska Nanooks rifle alumnus Matt Emmons (Mt. Holly, N.J.) overcame misfires in his two previous Olympic apperances to capture bronze and his first Olympic medal in the men’s 50-meter three position shooting event on Monday.

While he missed out on a silver medal with an off-center final shot, Emmons was pleased to add another Olympic medal to his career collection and to represent his team and country on the podium.

“It’s never over until it’s over,” Emmons said. “Anytime you can be on the podium at the Olympics is a pretty cool thing. After the last shot I looked down and thought ‘hey, I got bronze, cool’.”

Emmons, who was a Nanook from 1999-2003, was second heading into the last of 10 shots in the eight-man final and a 8.9 would have clinched the silver for him. In two previous Olympics the former Nanook had missed gold medals in the same event with tragic final shots that included a cross fire to the target a lane over and a premature misfire. This time he hit his own target but missed the center ring.

“I knew it was low and to the right. I just didn’t know how far because I was shaking so much,” said Emmons.

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