Growing Community of Olympic Style Target Shooting in the U.S., or
a Good Reason Not to “Retire” Permanently

For some people, retirement means quitting their jobs and sitting at home looking for something nice and relaxing to do; perhaps taking exotic vacations a couple times a year, or annoying relatives with frequent visits. Other people choose to devote their extra time to fun hobbies, such as collecting and restoring classic cars, fishing, or traveling, each of which may require large financial expenditures. Of course, these are all fine activities to engage in during your retirement when you have more free time to devote to your interests, but don’t you think you have more spirit left? And don’t you get a little bored of swinging that golf club all day in the hot sun? Isn’t it time to try something new? Do you have some extra energy, and are there any long-time urges that you have neglected and left unfulfilled? If so, keep reading.

At the Midwest Academy of Target Shooting, we would like to offer you a more exciting, productive, and challenging way to spend the free time you have earned. More likely than not, you have at least at some point in your life wished that you could someday become a famous sports star. As reality set in, however, you realized that you had no time to pursue such dreams and ambitions. What if retirement is that one opportunity you’ve been waiting for to make your long-time aspirations come true? If you feel that you have more left to accomplish, and you have the energy and the attitude of a winner, we would like to extend to you the challenge to become a competitive Olympic-style Target Shooting athlete. The shooting community is a group of high-performing, dedicated, and energetic individuals who demand much of themselves, but also reap the rewards of living a more complete life and achieving competitive success in their field. This high-energy atmosphere may not suit everyone’s character, but if you feel that this may be where you belong, you are at the right place to begin. If you bring the right attitude and dedication to the sport, we can help prepare you for success at the national level within a year or two of solid, coach-assisted training.

Another beautiful thing about this proposition is that you DO NOT even HAVE to quit your job to take up shooting at a high level if you don’t want to! With the proper skills, training only 1 to 2 hours daily will help you make great leaps in your performance, due to this sport’s highly psychological and technical nature. Our theory is, if you like what you’re doing, why quit in the first place? And if not, find something more interesting to engage in! While the most driven athletes choose to dedicate themselves to the sport full-time, Olympic Style Pistol Shooting can also be a great release from your day job. If you don’t think you have enough time for such an activity as Olympic Style Target Shooting, this sport can also give you a chance to discipline yourself better and create an organized schedule so that you can manage your time better. It’s a great way to stay active, try something new, and challenge yourself in a new way! Of course, a high level of committed effort is necessary (as with any goal worth pursuing), but the payoff is more than worth it. The benefits of staying mentally sharp well into your retirement, maintaining good physical fitness, and the satisfaction of pursuing a worthy goal are priceless. The George Washington University Center on Aging has found that staying active by challenging yourself throughout your life may even improve your immune system. Many seniors join this sport precisely because it brings a great deal of spiritual and emotional fulfillment! In this highly technical and psychology-driven sport, a 60-year old can be as competitive as a 30-year old shooter, provided he has the right skills to succeed.

If you have read this far, you should be realizing that Olympic Style Pistol Shooting is a great sport and a great opportunity for a new hobby, but you may still doubt your abilities and potential to excel. Have no fear. In Olympic Style Pistol Shooting, your potential is as high as you want to go, and the lack of age restrictions is the one thing that separates us from all of the other Olympic sports. These are not empty promises, as there is a great deal of Olympic history to draw on for inspiration. Two prominent examples of senior athletes in the shooting sport are Swedish shooters Oscar Swahn and Ragnar Skanaker.

Oscar Swahn is one of the greatest Olympic legends. Born in 1847, Swahn is immortalized in the Olympic Hall of Fame as the oldest competitor ever to win a medal. Coming to the 1920 Olympics and earning a Silver medal in the running deer event, Swahn is the oldest ever competitor, as well as the oldest Olympic medallist of all time (age 72). Furthermore, competing in the single shot running deer event in 1912, Swahn is the oldest Gold medallist of all time, at the age of 64.

Ragnar Skanaker of Sweden is a more contemporary example of an outstanding Olympic athlete whose top results came at the age when most other Olympic athletes cannot even dream of competing. His first Gold came at age 38 in 1972. He went on to win two consecutive Silver medals at the 1984 and 1988, in the same event, 50m Pistol (Free Pistol). He was able to hold on to a Bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics, 58 years old at the time. Skanaker’s Swedish record of 583 on 50m Free Pistol puts him two points ahead of the all-time official world record set by Alexander Melentiev at the 1980 Olympic Games. Skanaker currently has his sights set (no pun intended) on competing at the 2008 Olympics, the year he will turn 74. Who knows? Maybe you can be there to challenge the relentless Swede!

Another contemporary example of a lifelong shooter is Afanasijs Kuzmins, a Latvian shooter who won a gold and silver medals at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, respectively, in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event, and competes in this event to this day; Kuzmins is currently in his mid-50s. You can find precedents for success in Olympic Target Shooting at any age. What matters more than any of your physical factors is your ability to keep yourself organized, set high goals, and reach them, as well as develop meticulous attention to details and practice stress management. If you feel that you already have these skills, you’re a step ahead. If not, we will gladly help you become a top-performing Olympic Target Shooting athlete!

Do not let retirement from your job be the time when you let your mind and body degenerate. Use this time for a new beginning, and you might allow yourself to live a longer life by participating in such an energizing sport and enjoying the rewards of the Five-Bonus-Point system of health! We have touched upon a number of benefits you can gain by taking up sports target shooting. Feel free to contact us to discuss how you can stay in shape and satisfy your competitive urge! Our job is to throw down a challenge and offer you an opportunity. It is now your job to decide whether this is something you would enjoy and benefit from. We are looking for those individuals who expect more of themselves and are willing to put forth the effort needed to succeed.

To find out more information about the MATS Senior Program, visit our Senior Program discussion board and browse the rest of this website. Feel free to contact us directly to discuss the benefits of participation of the shooting sport, and what it can do for your personal and professional life.
Email: rdiatlov@hotmail.com
www.midwestacademytsusa.com

Why is Olympic Style Pistol Shooting a great opportunity for the USA?
1) The second amendment allows you the freedom to practice literally in your own home if you have the space for a range in your basement or on your land, provided all necessary safety precautions are taken.
2) Affordable and effective training by the Midwest Academy of Target Shooting can help you begin living the dream of competing in sports at a high level. We are dedicated to turning ambitious individuals of all backgrounds into high-performing Olympic Style Target Shooting athletes.
3) Get started right away with minimal expenses. Comprehensive class program fees start at less than $1,500.
4) Enjoy the great benefits of healthy physical activity, mental stimulation, emotional development, and lasting social connections with like-minded people.
5) Time-efficient training plan. Focused training and a minimal amount of traveling help make this sport an attractive choice for anyone!

Remember, you are only limited by the goals you set for yourself!

Contact us today to sign up for classes:

Prices & Tips
Midwest Academy of Target Shooting
Phone: (248) 935-3257
Email: rdiatlov@hotmail.com
Mail: Attn: Ruslan Dyatlov
Midwest Academy of Target Shooting
P.O. Box 2017 Royal Oak, MI 48068-2017

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