By Peggy Tartaro,
Executive Editor

Corey Cogdell has only been shooting International Trap for a little over 2 years, but the young Alaska native has spent her lifetime with a gun in her hand. Of course "lifetime" is a relative term-Cogdell is just 22. Nevertheless, she finds herself on her way to Beijing, China, this summer as a member of the US Shooting Team competing in the Summer Olympics.

Even Cogdell is a little surprised to find herself in that position. Given her email address to set up an interview, I noted that part of her address contained "2012," a reference to the next scheduled Summer Games. I asked her about that when we finally had a chance to speak and she admitted her sights were originally set on four years from now, but that she decided to "not worry about others," and do her best in this year's Olympic trials. Her best was good enough and she will represent the US in Women's Trap while 3-time Olympic Medalist Kim Rhode will again compete in Women's Skeet. While the Shotgun and Airgun Teams are set for China, the Rifle and Pistol teams will be selected in mid-May, after we go to press with this issue. You can keep up with the Olympic rosters at usashooting.org, the Website of the governing body for international shooting competition in the US.

When Cogdell was just three she began to go hunting and fishing with her dad and her sister. She was home schooled, but took part in a local 4-H program, originally intending to become involved in horses, but, she said, "I never got a horse."

Instead, she tried air rifle, pistol, archery, and, at age 14, shotguns. She competed in Alaska with her 4-H team, but never at national events.

She was fortunate to have former Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) President Dave Kaiser as a coach, and he started her on the road-literally-to competition.

At 16, at an Olympic Development Camp, Cogdell was introduced to International Trap and found the style of shooting and competition that best suited her.

I asked her about the differences between International Trap and American Trap and she gave me a succinct overview of the differences between the two.

American Trap features one trap "house" and one trap machine. Clay targets are presented to the shooter from left to right and the same height and speed (45 mph) with angles to 17 degrees.

International Trap features an in-ground bunker with 15 trap machines. Targets are also presented left to right, but heights can vary, the speed is 60 mph and the angles go to 45 degrees.

The challenge of International Trap, says Cogdell, is "you don't have to be perfect!" She didn't actively compete in International Trap until she was 19.

Now a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Cogdell has enjoyed traveling as part of her new world. She's already been to Korea, Italy, Cypress, and Brazil.

While competitors like Cogdell don't always get to see as much of these countries as they'd like, she has made the most of it. A highlight for Cogdell was seeing the Christ the Redeemer statue near Rio de Janerio in Brazil, one of the "wonders of the world," she said.

Another of Cogdell's passions is food and she worked for two years in a cooking school as an assistant chef. So she naturally enjoys sampling world cuisine-but, after matches. "We try to stay on a schedule and keep things as normal as possible," before shooting, she said. One trick is to "stay up until it's dark," even after a 14 hour trip to Asia, to try to acclimatize as quickly as possible to local time and conditions. You need, she says, "to keep your environment the same."

When traveling, there is a team uniform, and she often gets questions from strangers. She tries, she said, "to talk about the sport and never forget I am representing the US."

For the Olympics, the Shooting Team will travel to Korea about two weeks before the Games to train. About a week before their events (which are scheduled for the first part of the Games), they will go on to Beijing.

"Travel takes a lot out of you," she said. "You have to learn how your body works and prepare the best you can."

One of Cogdell's heroes is fellow Shotgun team member Bret Erickson, a three-time Olympic competitor and six-time national champion. "He's been so helpful to me," said Cogdell. In his 40s, Erickson is living proof that the shooting sports are not just for the young. Cogdell is looking forward to a long career as a competitor.

"I'm competitive about everything," Cogdell says. "Play until you win," she said. Whether it's a run with fellow athletes in Colorado Springs, or games of Monopoly or Risk, she's there. "We'll play (board games) all night."

Cogdell shoots a Perazzi X10 with Winchester ammo. I asked her if her gun had a name, and she said it did-but that it was a secret known only to herself.

She used to have a lucky rubber chicken, but she lost it one day and decided she didn't need luck or superstition, She just had to do her best. "I do pray before I shoot," she said. "Not to win, but to calm myself."

She'll "shoot anything I get my hands on," Cogdell said. She recently got her first deer on a hunt in Texas. She's in the market for .375 rifle so she can go bear hunting in her native Alaska, and she took a shine to a Kimber handgun at this year's SHOT Show.

She also loves motorcycle riding and old cars, rock climbing and downhill skiing, but "I'm still a girly-girl," who loves shopping and shoes.

I asked her if she's ever disheartened by the lack of attention shooters get from the general media. "None of us do it for the money or fame. It's love of the sport," she said.

That said, she wouldn't turn down a chance to be on a Wheaties box and she'd love to be on the television program "Dancing with the Stars."