Lydia Paterson competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, she is from Kansas City, Kansas. She competed in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol and got 29th place in the qualification round.

“The Olympics was an experience of a lifetime,” Paterson said.

“Practice days were different for me. Training includes more than just range time for me, it’s an entire lifestyle,” Paterson said. “I would start off the morning a couple hours at the gym and would shoot on the range for a couple hours in the evening.”

“I had the opportunity to compete against the most elite athletes in the world. I started shooting when I was 7, but didn’t start shooting international style until 5 years ago,” Paterson said.

Her brother and father taught her to shoot after she asked to tag along. She started with BB guns and gradually went to air pistol and then to the Olympics.

She as also been in two Junior Olympics, Junior Olympics are a young athlete development program for ages eight and under.

“I never had a typical ‘Olympic dream’ like most athletes do,” Paterson said. “I just found a passion and decided to put in the work to be the best I can be at it. I am thankful that I have learned the skills to become an Olympian.”

Unfortunately for her, she did not win a medal.