By Brittany Nelson, USAS Public Relations & Communications Manager
COLO SPRGS, CO (May 4, 2023) – Rachel Kim, of Rancho P.V., California, earned the title of Women’s Air Pistol Junior Olympic Champion, Evan Langerak, of Bemidji, Minnesota, won the title of Men’s Sport Pistol Junior Olympic Champion, and John Dorsten claimed the title of Men’s Rapid Fire Junior Olympic Champion.
The victors competed in the 2023 Pistol Junior Olympic Championships at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“I was so shocked when I won,” said Kim. “I didn’t know I had won until they said my name. I was just happy to place in the top three.”
Kim beat Ankita Deokule, who placed second, and Ada Korkhin, who placed third. This was Kim’s second time competing in a Junior Olympic Championships.
Langerak won his Men’s Sport Pistol title after competing in his third Junior Olympic Championships this year. He beat out Mark Shen, who finished second, and Nathan Bae, who finished third.
“It was really surprising when I won,” said Langerak. “It was a complete come up from the bottom and I am very proud of what I have done. I am also happy for all of the other shooters.”
Dorsten, a member of The Ohio State’s Pistol team, won his Men’s Rapid Fire Pistol title after beating out William Regala, who finished second, and Austin Stone, who finished third.
“The feeling of winning was quite amazing,” said Dorsten. “Finally achieving a first-place victory on the national level is still a little unreal.”
The Junior Olympic competition ran from April 20-27 and included Men’s and Women’s Air Pistol, Men’s and Women’s Sport Pistol, and Men’s Rapid-Fire Pistol. Athletes from all over the country shoot in the annual USA Shooting competition.
The competition also decided the Women’s Air Pistol, Men’ Sport Pistol, and Men’s Rapid Fire Pistol teams for the 2023 International Shooting Sports Federation Junior World Championships in Changwon, Korea, July 14-18. The following athletes qualified:
Women’s Air Pistol: Ada Korkhin, Ankita Deokule, Katherine Ahn, Jenny Noh, and Rachel Kim
Men’s Sport Pistol: Johnathan Dorsten, William Regala, Nathan Bae, Mark Shen, and Blaine Simpson
Men’s Rapid Fire: Johnathan Dorsten, William Regala, Austin Stone, Blaine Simpson, and Mark Shen
Medals were also awarded in the following categories:
Women’s Air Pistol
U18: Katherine Ahn, gold; Jenny Noh, silver; Chloe Bae, bronze.
U15: Saanvi Singh, gold; Jia Lee, silver; Eve Allen, bronze.
Men’s Sport Pistol
U18: Blaine Simpson, gold; Ammar Bagasra, silver; Austin Stone, bonze.
U15: William Regala, gold; Terry Hur, silver.
View all official results: https://usashooting.org/get-involved/events/
Purchase photos of the event here: https://geosnapshot.com/e/2023-pistol-jr-olympics/20554
View awards ceremony photos here: https://bit.ly/3Aud5cC