Cannon shooting for international recognition in Croatia

TIFTON — Every day, Patrick T. Cannon, a native of Ty Ty, wakes up, eats breakfast, and before heading to work in the afternoon trains for the Olympics.

Not your typical rising junior at Mercer University, Patrick T. Cannon has garnered a spot on the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team to compete in the 49th World Shooting Championships in late July in Croatia. The competition is second in prestige only to the Olympics and splits the quadrennial gap in Olympics competitions.

This year, 3,000 people from more than 95 countries are registered for the World Shooting Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. The championships are set for July 21 through Aug. 6.

Cannon will be shooting in the free pistol event, which involves unsupported, one-hand shooting with a .22-caliber pistol. The target is 50 meters away with a bullseye the size of a quarter. The event requires Cannon to fire 60 record shots within a two-hour time frame. He will be allowed to fire an unlimited number of “sighter” shots before shooting for the record.

Cannon’s interest in shooting began in eighth grade when he joined the 4-H BB Gun Team. He moved on to air pistols in ninth grade, and the next year, he won high individual in the state air pistol competition.

“He found his calling,” said David Haire, public information officer for the Tift County Sheriff’s Office and Cannon’s eighth-grade coach.

In 2002, Cannon’s experience and talent in the USA Shooting National Championships earned him a spot on the National Development Team, which acts as a feeder system for future national, and now worldwide, competitions. He trains with some of the best coaches and shooters in the world and the team provides shooters with equipment and uniforms and takes care of some of the expenses.

Cannon must continue to shoot within the top division to renew his spot on the development team each year and is judged by the national governing body, USA Shooting, and the United States Olympic Committee.

During the summer, Cannon works in the afternoons at South Georgia Bank in Tifton. He trains every morning and even does yoga and martial arts to build up his strength and flexibility. He has less time for training while attending Mercer as a full-time student.

“It’s a lot easier when I’m at home, that’s for sure,” he said.

But he will not let anything get in the way of his goal — being on the U.S. Olympic shooting team, which consists of only two men and two women. Olympic team membership is an honor that Cannon is determined to receive.

“He’s come a long way from shooting a BB gun,” said Haire.

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