LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — As the 2024 Olympics approach, the French city of Paris prepares to host this year's Olympics, and one athlete with ties to Lexington is visiting Paris between and after competitions. I'm looking forward to seeing the city. .
Team USA Shooting Team member Mary Tucker said: “I know the grass isn't going to be bluegrass, but I think it's still going to be a beautiful place to watch all the different competitions and hopefully bring some more medals back to America.”
Mary Tucker fondly remembers the city and scenery from her time here in Lexington. She also spent time volunteering at the Kentucky Horse Park. But her career really took off with the University of Kentucky women's rifle team, where she led the way in winning back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022.
In addition to his success in Great Britain, Tucker also qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. When the Olympics finally arrived in the summer of 2021, Tucker won a silver medal in the mixed 10m air rifle event.
Mr. Tucker has long used negative naysayers as motivation to succeed. Now, her newfound love for the sport is driving her to discover more at the Paris Games.
“People told me, 'You're not going to make the Olympic team,' and I made the team, and they said, 'Well, you're probably not going to medal,' so… I thought, okay, I'll do that.'' The medal kind of thing is just what was built from that. Now that there are so few people telling me what I can't do, I was able to truly find my love for this sport and realize that I have my own goals. ”
With the silver medal in hand, Tucker turns his attention to the top of the podium.
When asked what it would take to win a gold medal, Tucker said: I know it's going to take a little more time, but I think we're at the right point. We have new ammunition, new coaches, and more. ”
Her event begins at the start of the Olympics and ends in the middle of three weeks. After the competition, Tucker is looking forward to doing something he didn't get to do in Tokyo.
“Since we won’t be in lockdown, I can actually go to Paris and see the city, and I’m really looking forward to going and watching other sports.”
You can watch Tucker and Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics from July 26th to August 11th here on LEX 18.
