Joshua Olson

Joshua Olson (born August 21, 1979) is a former American rifle shooter. He competed at the 2012 Paralympics and placed 12th in the mixed 50 m rifle prone SH1 event.

Joshua Olson
Olson at the 2012 Paralympics
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1979-08-21) August 21, 1979[1]
Spokane, Washington, U.S.[2]
Sport
SportRifle shooting
ClubU.S. Army
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Para-shooting championships
Silver medal – second place2009 Hessian TrophyShooting
Gold medal – first place2009 French Grand PrixShooting
Gold medal – first place2009 Alicante CupShooting
Silver medal – second place2009 Oceania GamesShooting
Silver medal – second place2011 IPC Approved CompetitionR3 shooting
Gold medal – first place2011 IPC Approved CompetitionR6 shooting

Biography

Early life and Paralympics

Olson became a Paralympian after losing his leg to a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq War in 2003.[3] In June 2005, he was assigned as a marksman to Fort Benning, where practiced shotgun shooting. He said that in his first tryout outside he hit 49 out of 50.[4] In 2009 he won silver medals at the Oceania Games and Hessian Trophy and gold medals at the French Grand Prix and Alicante Cup.[2][5] He qualified for the 2012 Paralympics by winning a gold and a silver medal at an IPC Approved Competition in 2011.[6]

Prosthesis development

Besides shooting Olson helped develop a prosthesis for wounded soldiers. In late 2004, he met a Prosthetics and Associates employee in Orlando, Florida; together they drew a design on a piece of napkin. As soon as he came back to Walter Reed Army Medical Center the officials liked the new prosthesis on him so much that they started sending copies to wounded soldiers in Florida.[4]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joshua Olson.
  1. Joshua Olson. usashooting.org. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  2. "Joshua Olson". Team USA. United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  3. Jon Schuppe (August 6, 2012). "Wounded in War, Josh Olson Heads to Paralympics as a Shooter". NBC. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  4. Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. (September 6, 2012). "Army Paralympic shooter helps pioneer prosthesis". American Forces Press Service. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  5. "Iraq War Veteran Josh Olson Earns 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team Nomination". USA Shooting. January 17, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  6. Michael Molinaro (August 22, 2012). "Olson ready to make Paralympic history". USAMU PAO. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
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