NEW LONDON, Conn.—Freshmen cadets Helen Oh and Brian Kim both won national championships at the 2016 National Rifle Association Intercollegiate Pistol Championships in Fort Benning, Ga. March 14-17.
Oh won the national championship in the Women’s Air Pistol event and placed second in both the Open Air Pistol and Women’s Grand Aggregate events. Oh qualified for and was seeded number one in three events for the competition. For her regular season performance, Oh was named a first team All-American in Open Air Pistol, Women's Air Pistol and Women's Sport Pistol, and Honorable Mention All-American in Open Free Pistol.
"The national champion title is extremely rewarding because I have worked so hard for this moment," said Oh. "Long hours of practice and sacrifice has finally paid off, but it makes me more determined to maximize my potential for the next following seasons. Through pistol shooting I have learned to handle pressure and stay strong mentally within any circumstance. It has helped me build more confidence in myself and in leading others."
Kim was named national champion in the Men’s Sport Pistol event and earned the bronze medal in the Open Standard Pistol event.
“The Coast Guard shooting program is developing into a national powerhouse,” said the Academy’s Rifle and Pistol coach, Richard Hawkins. “We compete against Division I programs. Helen Oh and Brian Kim are our top pistol shooters and they both competed for the United States at the World Championships in Granada, Spain in September 2014. Helen and Brian have tremendous experience and the potential to be Olympians in 2020.”
The Pistol Intercollegiate Championships is the premiere national collegiate competition supporting the Olympic shooting events.
Questions should be directed to Coast Guard Academy Public Affairs at 860-444-8270 or cga-public-affairs@uscga.edu.