To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. shooting sports, the U.S. is a force to be reckoned with, not only in talent, but in media coverage. Before the games, Kim Rhode, who won gold medals in shooting at the 1996 and 2004 Olympics, and a bronze in 2000, grabbed major media coverage. Wearing shooting glasses, a shooting vest and holding her shotgun, Rhode graced the cover of the Los Angeles Times special Olympics supplement in August. In Beijing, she competed against 18 women from around the world in skeet, taking the silver medal and adding to her media power and status in the industry. Leading the way in international coverage is 28-year-old rifle shooter Matt Emmons. In the 11 years he has competed internationally, Emmons has won 32 medals. Winning the silver at the Olympics this year, he was the most sought-after shooter by the media. Ironically, the attention wasn’t because of his talent as a shooter or because he hit the wrong target on his last shot, losing the gold medal at the ’04 games. It was because he met his future wife, Czech Republic rifle shooter Katarina Kurkova, when she offered her condolences following that errant shot. At this year’s games, they were “the couple,” the Brangelina of the shooting sports. U.S. Army shooters Vincent Hancock (skeet) and Glenn Eller (double trap) each won gold medals in Beijing and both have an impressive resume. Upon returning to his hometown of Eatonton, Ga., from the Olympics, Hancock was given a parade, the key to the city and the mayor proclaimed it to be “Vincent Hancock Day.” Grabbing Headlines Vincent Hancock and Glenn Eller were featured in the all-time, top-selling issue of Sports Illustrated. Kim Rhode captures the cover of the Los Angeles Times Olympic supplement. cerning the shooting sports were not based on the fact that it was about “shooting,” as many think. They were based on whether or not the sport could be explained and covered in way that met the high-production standard the network required. It was a daunting task, sometimes because those in television didn’t understand the sport, and sometimes because the sport didn’t understand television. And therein is our challenge, to bring the two together. Beijing was a beginning, thanks to our athletes and their extraordinary performances. When it comes to the international Eller has competed for nine years with 15 medals to his name. Hancock and Eller received a tremendous amount of follow-up media coverage for their gold-medal shooting. The Aug. 25 issue of Sports Illustrated had a fullpage story, “Men With the Golden Guns.” Swimmer Michael Phelps graces the cover and according to Sports Illustrated, it is the all-time, highest-selling issue. Yes, the issue sold because of Phelps, but the shooting sports received the benefit. Trap shooter Corey Cogdell, who got her start with the Scholastic Clay Target Program, was not a favorite to win a medal at the Olympics, and some even thought she would finish last. Cogdell rose to the During the Olympics, Matt Emmons (second from right), and his wife, Czech Republic rifle shooter Katarina Kurkova (second from left), appeared on NBC’s Today show with hosts Lester Holt and Amy Robach. 58 Glenn Eller captures the gold in men’s double trap, as featured on the NBC Web site. An impressive amount of shooting coverage is still available at www.nbcolympics.com. www.shootingindustry.com • SHOT SHOW SUPER ISSUE 2009 Read SI DIGITAL