Alaskan-Born Olympic Trap Shooter Trains for 2012 Trials

She became the first American woman to ever medal in her sport at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. She's now training for the 2012 trials.

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By Alexis Fernandez

Story Created: Jul 25, 2011 at 9:56 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 25, 2011 at 9:56 AM AKDT

An Alaskan-born Olympic trap shooter is training in hopes of making it to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Corey Cogdell, 24, has turned a passion for trap shooting into a full-time career. It was a hobby she never knew was an Olympic sport until she began competing competitively at age 14.

“My dad got me started in the shooting sport when I was a little kid,” she said. “I was probably two or three years old.”

Cogdell has won dozens of medals and awards since she began competing, including a bronze medal in Women’s Trap at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, which took her less than two years to earn.

She also became the first American woman to ever win an Olympic medal in her sport.

“All the people, especially here in Alaska, that helped me along the way,” she said. “I mean, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without so much support.”

It’s an accomplishment that her father, Dick Cogdell, said sometimes feels surreal.

“To watch Corey progress the way she has, has just been phenomenal. I’m so proud of her,” he said.

She also wants younger kids to know that achieving your dream is possible with hard work and dedication.

“[If] You have the will and desire to be a champion you can be, and it’s all about how much heart you have and how much desire you have,” she said.

Cogdell is currently living in Colorado as a resident athlete; she plans to compete in the Olympic trials this fall and upcoming spring to determine whether she will be in London in 2012.

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