I sure hope we can pull off a few medals in the shooting sports category. It would be a great promoter for safe firearms use in the media. Maybe some of the thick-headed politicians would see firearms use in a different light as well.

I have squaded and shot trap competitions, with both Giuseppe, and Susan Natrass, and they are good spokespeople for the sport.


The Canadians

Canada has sent a four-person team to compete in Beijing.

Giuseppe Di Salvatore,- 18, of Vancouver, B.C. He'll probably be the youngest shooter to line up in Beijing. He won bronze at the 2007 Pan American Games to earn a quota position for Canada at the Olympic Games. Di Salvatore says his goal at his first Olympic Games is to enjoy the experience because he has many Games ahead of him. He'll also be competing in men's double trap.

Event:
Men's Trapshooting
Olympic Outlook:
Top half of draw
Career Highlights:
2007 Pan American Games, bronze
2006 Nationals, gold
Noteworthy:
A member of the national team since 2005
Won first national title at 16, making him the youngest Canadian shooting champion in history


Susan Natrass-57, born in Medicine Hat Alberta. Veteran Susan Nattrass returns to the Olympic stage, recently the country’s flag bearer at the 2007 Pan American Games Opening Ceremony. At 57, the trap shooter is gearing up for her sixth (and likely final) Olympic Games. More than 30 years have passed since Nattrass took the line at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games to become the first female shooter in Olympic history. Had to shoot against men at that event. Since then has successfully campaigned for women's shooting teams to be recognised, as a legitimate Olympic sport, when the OOC tried banning women from shooting in the events.

Event:
Women's Trapshooting
Olympic Outlook:
Medal contender
Career Highlights:
2007 Pan American Games, gold
2006 World Championships, gold
2005 World Championships, bronze
2004 Olympics, 6th
2001 World Championships, silver
Noteworthy:
Five-time Olympian (1976, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004)
First female shooter in Olympic history
Seven-time Women's World Trapshooting champion (1974-'81, 2006)
Officer of the Order of Canada
1981 Canadian Athlete of the Year (beating out Wayne Gretzky)
World Record holder for Women's Trapshooting from 1974-'89

Johannes Sauer-40, Vancouver BC. Sauer has represented Canada on the national team six of the past seven years and holds the national prone match record. He hails from South Africa.

Event:
Men's 50m prone rifle
Olympic Outlook:
Top half of draw
Career Highlights:
2006 Commonwealth Games, 20th
2005 World Cup Italy, 49th
2005 World Cup USA, 45th
2005 Championships of America, gold
2005 Canadian Championships, gold
Noteworthy:
Began shooting in Africa when he was seven
Five years on national team Holds Canadian match record

Avianna Chow- 33, Toronto, Ontario. Chao, who began shooting seven years ago, returns to her birth country for her first Olympic participation. She qualified for the Beijing Games when she won the Gold Medal in Air Pistol at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Event:
10m Air Pistol, 25m Sport Pistol
Olympic Outlook:
Top half of draw
Career Highlights:
2007 Pan American Games, gold in 10m Air Pistol
2006 Commonwealth Games, bronze in 25m Pistol Pairs
2005 Championship of Americas, gold in team event
Noteworthy:
Started shooting in 2001
Five years of national team experience


Good Luck, to all members of our shooting team!

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Respect the animal you hunt!