October 4, 2024
Standing on the podium is something that Jesse Olsen knows well, collecting numerous medals over his target shooting career. Although, medals are not the only symbol of success for Olsen as he continues to push his abilities so he can hit his target, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Olsen was first exposed to target shooting while attending an air cadet program at 17 years-old and often would join his mother at the shooting range while she trained for the police academy.
Following his time with the air cadet program, Olsen attended the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ont.
It was in Ontario, where Olsen was introduced to competitive target shooting and he attended try-outs for the college’s varsity pistol and rifle team. Olsen made the pistol team and was member for three years before it was disbanded, which forced him to pivot his involvement in the sport.
“After I left school, I had made enough contacts and I continued shooting through the International Military Program and from there got into competing on my own.”
However, Olsen’s focused changed from competition to family and his career, which put target shooting on the back burner for several years.
Around 2018, Olsen resumed his commitment to target shooting and it took no time for him to fall right back into the sport he had pursued years prior. That year, Olsen won his first national championship in rapid fire pistol, and it was only the beginning
In 2020, Olsen joined the Shooting Federation of Canada National Identified Team before he was faced with unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19.
“I was very excited for the season, which obviously never materialized. We came out [of COVID restrictions] around 2022 and I got back into training camps,” said Olsen. “[The first camp back] was very motivating and focused. It was taught by someone who was proficient in the Olympic rapid-fire event, which I [wanted] to focus on.”
By 2024, Olsen had compiled an impressive resume, including three national titles in rapid fire and tallied 13 medals within August: eight gold, two silver and three bronze.
His month began with two provincial tournaments in Prince Albert, where he collected six gold medals in various events (free pistol, standard pistol, centre fire, NRA rim fire and Olympic rapid fire). Six days later, Olsen competed at the 2024 Canadian Rifle and Pistol National Championships, claiming his final two gold medals in free pistol and military rapid fire.
Despite his tangible success, Olsen continues to focus on bettering himself.
“It felt pretty good to medal in another couple events at nationals…definitely some unexpected highs and some good lessons learned, with points to improve on before next competition,” shared Olsen.
His motivation to reach his Olympic target, continues to push him through training.
“I try to keep my mental focus on a process-based goals versus an outcome. If you focus on the outcome, you will lose focus on the process and the here and the now. I found if I focus on specific goal, both mentally and technically, my outcome in that event is more favourable.”
Olsen attended the 2024 ISSF Shooting Final Olympic Qualification Championship Rifle / Pistol, in Rio de Janeiro with no intention of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, rather, Olsen went so he knew what to prepare for in the coming years.
“[Attending the 2024 qualifier] was to set the stage for the cycle coming up and really focus on being able to spend the next two years getting my average score up to where I am competitive at the continental level…and the Olympic.”