MONROE - Darlington native Michael McPhail's quest to win a gold medal in the 50-meter rifle prone event at the Rio Olympics will be held Aug. 12.
McPhail, a 2000 Darlington High School graduate and Army Staff Sgt. at Fort Benning, Georgia with the U.S. Marksmanship Unit, is the top American going into the Olympics. He is ranked No. 5 in the world and was ranked No. 1 in the world last year. McPhail will be on hand tonight for the opening ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro.
"I think the goals and expectations I have for myself now are different than they were four years ago," McPhail said. "My expectation and goal is to win it and walk out of Rio an Olympic champion. I would be happy with a medal but anything less than that is not what I'm going there for."
McPhail competed in the rifle prone in the 2012 London Olympics and just missed qualifying for the finals by three-tenths of a point. McPhail placed ninth and was the highest scoring American in the event.
"I have kind of put London behind me," McPhail said. "I did the best I could on that day. That has not been a motivating factor. Each day is its own."
He has been gearing up and training for his second Olympic performance. He recently completed a two-week training camp in Germany.
McPhail is an established veteran and has made every U.S. shooting team the past 12 years except the 2008 Olympic team. He qualified to compete in the Rio Games by his performance in international competitions.
"Making the Olympic team is a task all on its own," he said. "It's my job. I would have been shocked if I didn't make the Olympic team."
There will be a field of about 65 rifle prone shooters at the Rio Olympics. The top eight will advance to the finals.
There will be a lot of down time in Rio but don't expect McPhail to turn into a tourist and do a lot of sight-seeing.
"I'm not there to be a spectator," McPhail said. "There will be a lot going on. I will go to the shooting range in the morning for practice and that will be my most important part of the day. That will take up the bulk of my time."
When he's not working or competing in a rifle prone tournament or on the shooting range, McPhail is an avid fisherman and hunter. He still roots for the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the Green Bay Packers.
McPhail will use the same rifle at the Olympics he received as a gift from Darlington friend Bernie Wiegel.
"It's the best one I have," he said of the rifle.
The main reason he went to the Army in Fort Benning was because of its tradition of having a strong marksmanship and training unit.
"It's the reason I came (to the Army) because of all the support you get," McPhail said. "It's one of the best places to find out how good you are. The sport is great. The support I get from family and friends in Darlington is second to none."
McPhail, a 2000 Darlington High School graduate and Army Staff Sgt. at Fort Benning, Georgia with the U.S. Marksmanship Unit, is the top American going into the Olympics. He is ranked No. 5 in the world and was ranked No. 1 in the world last year. McPhail will be on hand tonight for the opening ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro.
"I think the goals and expectations I have for myself now are different than they were four years ago," McPhail said. "My expectation and goal is to win it and walk out of Rio an Olympic champion. I would be happy with a medal but anything less than that is not what I'm going there for."
McPhail competed in the rifle prone in the 2012 London Olympics and just missed qualifying for the finals by three-tenths of a point. McPhail placed ninth and was the highest scoring American in the event.
"I have kind of put London behind me," McPhail said. "I did the best I could on that day. That has not been a motivating factor. Each day is its own."
He has been gearing up and training for his second Olympic performance. He recently completed a two-week training camp in Germany.
McPhail is an established veteran and has made every U.S. shooting team the past 12 years except the 2008 Olympic team. He qualified to compete in the Rio Games by his performance in international competitions.
"Making the Olympic team is a task all on its own," he said. "It's my job. I would have been shocked if I didn't make the Olympic team."
There will be a field of about 65 rifle prone shooters at the Rio Olympics. The top eight will advance to the finals.
There will be a lot of down time in Rio but don't expect McPhail to turn into a tourist and do a lot of sight-seeing.
"I'm not there to be a spectator," McPhail said. "There will be a lot going on. I will go to the shooting range in the morning for practice and that will be my most important part of the day. That will take up the bulk of my time."
When he's not working or competing in a rifle prone tournament or on the shooting range, McPhail is an avid fisherman and hunter. He still roots for the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the Green Bay Packers.
McPhail will use the same rifle at the Olympics he received as a gift from Darlington friend Bernie Wiegel.
"It's the best one I have," he said of the rifle.
The main reason he went to the Army in Fort Benning was because of its tradition of having a strong marksmanship and training unit.
"It's the reason I came (to the Army) because of all the support you get," McPhail said. "It's one of the best places to find out how good you are. The sport is great. The support I get from family and friends in Darlington is second to none."
