10 Questions with Team USA Shooting Star, Jason Turner

Added by Shannon Hovan on July 8, 2012.

Jason Turner, Team USA Shooting

USA Shooter Jason Turner is on his way to his third Olympic Games, “aiming” for another medal.  He says if he can get to the place inside himself where he is not worried about success, success will come.  And by success, of course, he means a second medal.

1. You have been shooting for a long time.  You have had quite an accomplished career thus far in National and International competitions.  Aside from competing, what has kept you in the sport for so long?

“Mainly because I enjoy it.  There always seems to be a new challenge every day in training or in just going to a competition.  There is definitely more of an individual aspect to shooting.  When you’re shooting, you’re competing against yourself.  Keeping focus has everything to do with you.  You have no control how anyone else does.”

2. As an observer of the sport, accuracy and precision are the first words that come to mind when thinking about shooting.  In your own words, other than accuracy and precision, what is the sport of shooting?

“Mental discipline; being able to focus for the 60 shots you have, and the hour and 45 minutes you are on the line for each competition.”

3. Talk a bit about what it takes to be consistently accurate as a pistol shooter.

“A lot of focus, and a lot of that boils down to your training.  I’m currently training for 3 to 3 and half hours a day.  If I can focus every day I am in training, when it comes down to the hour and 45 minutes for the competition, that should be no problem.”

4. Where does claiming a medal in Beijing rank among the memories and accomplishments of your shooting career?

“Definitely top two or three.  In 2007, at the Pan American Games I won gold in both pistol events and that was great.  In 2007 as well, I won the National Championship for air gun and pistol.  So, 2007 in general, was a huge year for me and a huge confidence boost for me, reaffirming that I could qualify for more Olympic Games and claim a medal.”

5.  What are your expectations heading into your third Olympic games?  How are you a different shooter than you were four years ago in Beijing?

“When I’m at the top of my game, I’m not really thinking at all and success seems to come.  I feel like I can get to that place a lot easier now, which is totally different compared to four years ago.  I take every competition as they come and try not to look ahead or behind.”

6. Is representing the US in the Olympic Games the highest accomplishment for an athlete?

“Definitely.”

7. In your eyes, as a top competitor in your sport heading into London, is winning gold simply a goal, or is it the only option?

“Every competition I go in to win.  I’m just focusing on the task at hand and if I can get to that place where I just perform, the winning will come.”

8. Aside from competition, what makes the Olympic experience so memorable?

“Meeting people and watching other events ranks pretty high up there along with walking in for opening ceremonies.”

9. Throughout your career, did the accomplishment of participating in the Olympic Games always seem attainable?

“I didn’t think it was possible probably until I made my first olympic team in 2004, to be honest.  In 1996, I knew I didn’t have a chance to make that team.  In 2000, I knew I was close.  In my heart I thought I should have made it.  I think I placed fourth.  It took me a little while after that to decide if I wanted to commit another four years to try and make the team in 2004.”

10. Is there a special camaraderie that exists between fellow Olympians?  If any member of Team USA were to win a medal, would it be as if you won it as well?

“Definitely.  We’re all rooting for each other to win.  As fellow athletes, we know what it takes to get there.”

Jason Turner, Team USA Shooting

We will continue our 2012 Team USA / London Olympics Interview Series all month leading up to the start of the Games. Find all the interviews and more Team USA coverage on the DoubleGSports.com Team USA page.