The purpose of the “Shooter Spotlight” is to help shooters get to know their fellow competitors a little bit better. We cover a wide range of shooters from “Marksman to Master.” This is the 38th interview in the series.
Matt Emmons. ©2010 ISSF | Photo: Marco Dalla Dea. Photo permission granted by Wolfgang Schreiber
Where do you call home?
Funny joke as of late. I’ve been telling people wherever my suitcase happens to be since we’ve been traveling so much. Anyway, we have a home in Grand Rapids, MN, and we still have our apartment in Plzen, Czech Republic, where we also spend a fair amount of time. That’s where my wife Katy is from.
How did you get involved in shooting competitively?
I grew up around hunting and guns and always liked to shoot. I had no idea shooting was a serious sport and was introduced to it by an FBI firearms instructor, Paul Adamowski. The first reason was to go to college on a scholarship, but after a little time, I got the Olympic bug. Paul taught me the basics and some mental things right away and after a few months found a club about an hour from where I grew up that had a junior rifle team. I don’t think the club exists anymore, but it was called United Sportsmen Association of North America. I don’t remember what it stood for. Ed Shea was my junior coach and his daughter, April, was on the National Team. I still keep in touch with them. Great people and Ed was a great coach to me. It was even better that he was still competing himself. We had a lot of fun going to prone matches together. Anyway, we shot on Friday nights and I started shooting matches in New Jersey and really started to improve after a year or so.
What is a little known fact about yourself that your fellow competitors might not know?
Hmmm…tough one. A lot of people know a lot about me. Before shooting, I used to race motocross for a while. I loved it and even after I stopped, I rode all the time until I went to college.
What do you consider your finest shooting achievement?
Also a tough one. It’s easy to say my Olympic gold medal performance, which was excellent, but my silver in Beijing was probably a better performance. My confidence wasn’t where I wanted it going into Beijing and I pulled every last ounce of energy out of myself for that prone match. I used every trick I had in my bag and I needed them – it was a terribly tough day with the wind and I was in the worst place on the range: the middle. Equally good was my World Championship victory in prone in 2002. Also terrible wind, but that final was fun. I knew I was going to shoot a good one.
What is your favorite pre-match meal?
Depends on how nervous I am. If I feel good and it’s available, I like eggs and toast. If not, something that digests easy. If I feel OK, I also like a good cup of coffee.
What is your favorite post match drink?
Depends on how I shot and where I am! Sounds bad, but once I’m away from the range, a good beer is always a nice reward for good shooting (I am 29, so I can say that!), especially if I’m in Plzen, Czechoslovakia. Otherwise, if it’s a big match, it’s usually water because I have to go to doping and pee in a cup.
Do you have a favorite shooting range?
Atlanta. It’s a shame we don’t shoot there anymore. Otherwise, I’m not sure. Bangkok, Thailand, has always been good to me, although I hate the weather there. It’s a very tough range, but that fits me. I like a challenge.
Do you have any short term and/or long term goals?
Enjoy life, be a great father and husband. That’s #1. We’re only on earth so long, you better enjoy it. In shooting, to keep moving forward and see just how good I can be.
What shooting skill are you currently focusing your energy on?
Right now I’m still getting used to my new jacket. My positions are generally close to being right, but there’s still some work to do. That’s the main thing keeping me occupied.
Thanks Matt for sharing a little bit about yourself with the pronematch.com community!
