The future of Olympic shooting appears uncertain, but an athlete hopes the IOC will take a stand for athletes.

An American Olympic shooter is pondering the future of the sport after competing in the Olympics for the second time in a row.

A Florida native living in the Czech Republic, Mary Tucker, qualified to compete for Team USA in the Women's Air and Smallbore Rifle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

"Tucker stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that it is enjoyable to hail from a nation that places a high value on sports. He frequently remarks that he takes pride in representing the United States because it is one of the dominant countries in sports, as well as in many other areas."

On Aug. 1, Tucker participated in the women's 50m rifle three positions competition and scored 579 points, placing 25th.

Sagen Maddalena from Team USA finished first and qualified for the final round, where she won a silver medal.

""I definitely have a lot more time left in my career, in my opinion," Tucker said."

Tucker, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021, gained a significant increase in shooting's viewership at the 2024 Games, but she is worried about the future of the Olympic sport.

"Sport shooting and other types of shooting are fairly different," she said. "There is always talk of whether [shooting] will be removed from the Games, which is something that always looms. I think it's important for people to understand this distinction."

Despite similarities to the basic principles, Tucker stated that it's a very safe sport.

The West Virginia University graduate plans to focus on increasing youth involvement in the near future, while also hoping that the IOC and other organizations will advocate for sports shooters.

She mentioned NCAA opportunities, scholarships, the Olympics, and traveling the world.

Tucker hopes to see a new generation of shooters join Team USA and is planning to launch her own coaching business soon to boost excitement.

"Tucker stated that he has a strong desire to aid the development of the next generation in the sport. He emphasized the importance of increasing the number of juniors to ensure the sport's continued growth."

In Tokyo, Tucker trained five to six hours each day, at least six days per week, in order to stay ahead of the competition. For Paris 2024, she prioritized a balanced life and grounded her training.

Tucker's disciplines include not only shooting practice but also cardio, yoga, and strength training, as well as a mentally transportive workflow.

"Visualization is key to mastering it. You need to imagine the range, how it will feel, and how the pressure will affect you in those situations."

Last summer, Tucker had the chance to shoot at the same range she competed in last week in Châteauroux, France, even though the athletes were not part of the 2024 Olympic Games.

""Although it was unfortunate, there was a sense of calmness in the Games," she said."

If the motivation to explore and succeed is present, anyone can master shooting, as Tucker, a native of Sarasota, humbly believes.

"I struggled to hit the target while lying down, which is supposedly the simplest position," she remarked.

As a high school athlete, Tucker watched YouTube videos and replicated the techniques before participating in local competitions.

"Tucker stated that he believes this sport is one of the few that anyone can participate in, as long as they have the desire and motivation. Despite his own struggles with focus and restlessness, he manages to maintain concentration for the seven seconds necessary."

Subscribe to the Planet Chronicle Sports Huddle newsletter and follow our sports coverage on X.