Michael McPhail

Wisconsin Olympian Michael McPhail was a millimeter away from making the finals in the 50m Rifle, Prone.

From Ed Klajman, Madison.com:

Whether it’s football, baseball, hockey or basketball, describing a sport as a “game of inches” is a well-worn cliché.

For Michael McPhail, the difference between fighting for an Olympic medal and early elimination Friday was even more minute — more like a millimeter. And unfortunately for the Darlington native, he came out on the wrong side of that mark.

McPhail was one of 50 marksmen vying for a spot in the final round of the men’s 50-meter rifle in prone position, where the top eight qualifiers battle for medals.

He ended with a score of 595, which means he hit a target 10.4 millimeters in diameter from 50 meters away 595 times out of 600 attempts. That was good enough to tie for fourth place along with eight other shooters. So there was a nine-way shoot-off for five spots.

In the shoot-off, it’s not just enough to hit the target. What matters is where the bullet strikes, down to the millimeter. Each shooter took five shots, with a cumulative total tallied. McPhail ended with a score of 51.3, placing him sixth, just one spot out of the final. A score of 51.6 would have been good enough to stay alive.

“You’re looking at a millimeter and I’m in the final, easy,” said the staff sergeant with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Ga. “I’m not disappointed with how I shot. Of those 65 shots I had, maybe one I would shoot again. I mean, I shot 64 great shots. There’s not a whole lot more you can ask for.

"I’ve been beaten before. And if I stay in this, I’m going to be beaten again. I did everything I wanted to do at the level I wanted to do it. I can sleep.”

...McPhail said becoming an Olympian was the fulfillment of a dream he’s had since he was 14 years old. He got emotional when describing his Olympic experience.

“It’s just surreal. For a lot of people, this is the biggest thing in their life that will ever happen. And you know, it’s cool just to be a part of that; walking into opening ceremonies, it’s incredible.

McPhail would like to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. I hope he does.

He didn't medal in London, but he made Wisconsin and the USA proud.

The media focus so much on winning and the Olympic "stars." Winning in a particular competition doesn't necessarily define athletic or personal greatness.

Read more about Michael McPhail.

Darlington native Michael McPhail began target shooting for fun as a teen, traveling to competitions around southwestern Wisconsin, not knowing he was honing skills that would one day take him around the world.

Today McPhail is a fiercely competitive Army staff sergeant who is headed for the Olympics in London with his sights set on a gold medal in the 50-meter men's prone rifle marksmanship event.

"I love to compete," McPhail said Wednesday. "I live for the competition, the feeling of being nervous and excited."

McPhail, 30, won the event in the 2011 Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, and has taken home medals in several international shooting World Cup matches, but this is his first trip to the Olympics.

...McPhail enlisted in 2004. After training he was assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, whose members have won hundreds of individual and team honors including 23 Olympic medals, more than half of all U.S. shooting medals won since the unit formed in 1956.

Created to raise Army marksmanship standards, the unit is used as a recruiting tool and training resource. It also develops and tests new firearms with gunsmiths who make and customize the team's weapons.

McPhail and another unit member, 1st Sgt. Eric Uptagrafft, are the U.S. team for the 50-meter event.

I didn't know active military members are on Team USA.

Hey, Bob Costas and NBC! That deserves some prime time coverage.
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Congratulations, Michael McPhail!

Hope to see you in Rio.