Olympic medalist avoids attention

November 2, 2008 - 11:29 PM
THE GAZETTE

Jason Turner likes keeping a low profile, and an Olympic medal isn't reason for change.

"Unless you know me," Turner said, "you could walk up to me on the street, and you would never know that I was an Olympic medalist."

The Olympic Training Center shooter will compete Wednesday at the Rifle/Pistol World Cup Final in Bangkok, Thailand, his first major tournament since winning a bronze in Beijing.

Joining Turner, a 10-meter air pistol specialist, are OTC shooters Emily Caruso and Matt Emmons. Caruso and Emmons will compete in 10-meter air rifle, and Emmons also will shoot in 50-meter rifle prone and 50-meter rifle 3-position.

The International Olympic Committee awarded Turner, 33, an air pistol bronze after North Korean Kim Jong Su tested positive for propanolol, a beta blocker that reduces trembling in the hands.

"There's a little more confidence," said Turner, who works as a bartender at the Texas Roadhouse on Eighth Street. "I've been knocking on the door. To have it break through in the biggest match in four years, hopefully it's a steppingstone."

Springs judo competitor loses
OTC judo competitor Paola Genao-Butler lost in the second round of the Junior World Championships on Oct. 24 in Bangkok. After a first-round bye, Genao-Butler was pinned by South Korean Da-Woon Joung.

OTC wrestler stumbles
OTC wrestler Steve Mocco dropped both of his matches Oct. 21 at the Osman Abdurakhmanov Memorial International in Gergebil, Russia. Mocco lost to Ruslan Sheikov of Belarus and Russian Beylal Makhov.

OTC triathletes in action
OTC triathlete Brian Fleischmann marked a 12th-place finish Oct. 26 at a World Cup in Huatulco, Mexico. His OTC teammate, Sarah Haskins Kortuem, did not finish.

Local triathletes struggle
Colorado Springs triathletes Bruce Wacker and Richard Wall competed Oct. 26 at the XTERRA World Championship in Wailea-Makena, Hawaii. Wacker placed 277th. Wall was 420th.

Potts in Ironman triathlon
Five Colorado Springs triathletes will race Saturday at the Ironman World Championship in Clearwater, Fla. The group consists of Susan Baker, Matt Limbert, Timothy O'Donnell, Andy Potts and Amanda Stevens.

Krimsky asks for probation
A Danbury (Conn.) Superior Court judge will decide Friday whether John F. Krimsky Jr., the former marketing director of the U.S. Olympic Committee, can receive probation. Krimsky faces four felony counts for possession of child pornography.