Fong takes aim with world's best

In certain "realistic" video games, characters' breathing patterns alter their aim; to compensate for this perturbation, there is usually a control to hold one's breath before firing. For competitors in actual shooting events, however, their control must be even finer. Shooters do not merely fire between breaths — ideally, they fire between heartbeats.

This finesse is necessary because the pulse ever so slightly disrupts the shooter's control over the rifle. The timing required to perform this feat seems beyond the reach of the average human being, but it is second nature to freshman Abby Fong. Fong, a member of Princeton's rifle team, was recently named a collegiate first-team All-American and earlier in the year qualified as a competitor for the U.S. World Cup Team in the 3x20 small-bore rifle.

For those who know shooting only as an obscure Olympic event, a short summary may be helpful. Competitors generally to make 20 shots from each of three separate positions — lying prone on the stomach, in a kneeling posture and standing — at a target whose bullseye is not significantly larger than the diameter of the bullet itself. When a competitor looks through his or her sights, the point at which they aim is roughly the size of an overenthusiastically drawn period.

Competition consists of a qualifying round in which each competitor has 60 shots and a final round of 10 shots for the best shooters from the previous round.

Distances vary; most college teams shoot from 50 feet away due to space restrictions in their venues, but international competition customarily occurs at a distance of 50 meters.

Point values are assigned to concentric rings around the target, with 10 points being awarded for a perfect bullseye and diminishing values given to the wider rings.

Fong competed in her first World Cup match a week ago in Georgia and found herself next to the Chinese champion and the current world record holder, Sonja Pfeilschifter of Germany.

Pfeilschifter's record score is 594, which is equivalent to 54 perfect bulls-eyes plus six shots that fall in the next-closest ring to the center.

"It's pretty intimidating when you go up to the line and you know some of these women have been shooting Olympics since I was born," Fong said. "Some of these girls are amazing."

In the three-position sport rifle competition, Pfeilschifter came out victorious, but Fong was the second U.S. finisher in 25th.

Fong began shooting at the age of 13 and was competing in the National Junior Olympics by the next year. She won four New York state championships and was second in the Junior Olympics by 16.

In fact, she likely would have competed in the Junior Olympics this year as well had she not faced a very common obstacle.

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"I would have gone, but I had midterms," Fong said.

There was one important competition that Fong did have time to attend: the fall selection match for the U.S. World Cup team. The World Cup team selection process is based on competitors' scores in various tournaments, particularly the fall selection match, with the last few spots on the team left to the discretion of the coach.

When Fong won the fall selection match, she secured a spot on the team. It was only the latest step forward, one born out of dedication and practice. Her father, who introduced her to the sport, attends her practices and helps her adjust her technique.

"He helps me a lot when I need advice. He sees me every couple of weeks during matches, so he can point things out that I need to work on," Fong said.

Members of Princeton's rifle team, one of the school's club sports teams, practice at Princeton's shooting range in the Armory. Fong works on her skills there several times a week, going through each position to ensure that none get rusty.

Standing, the position that involves the most skill because it imparts the least natural stability, is her favorite.

"It's very satisfying to do well," Fong said.

The ultimate goal for any shooting competitor, of course, is to compete on the Olympic stage. Fong's work with the U.S. World Cup team and the rifle team at Princeton is important preparation for the team trials that will be held in May and will decide the competitors for the 2008 Beijing Games.

With continued practice and success, the fulfillment of Fong's Olympic aspirations may be just a heartbeat away.