They haven’t gone viral like pommel horse guy or Turkey’s too-cool-for-school shooter, but U.S. military athletes have been making their mark on this year’s Olympic games in Paris.
Team USA’s 95 Olympic medals so far this year includes two won by U.S. service members as the games enter their final few days.
Army Capt. Samantha Sullivan was part of the U.S. women’s rugby team that stunned in a 14-12 upset victory over Australia and took home a bronze medal, the first ever U.S. medal in rugby sevens.
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Meanwhile, Army Sgt. Sagen Maddalena won a silver medal in the women’s 50-meter rifle three-position competition.
The U.S. military typically sends a handful of athletes to the Olympics. The largest representation often comes from the Army because of its World Class Athlete Program, which fosters soldiers who want to compete in international sporting events, and Marksmanship Unit, a similar program specifically for shooting competitions.
This year’s contingent of military Olympians hails entirely from the Army, with three from the Army World Class Athlete Program and four from the Army Marksmanship Unit. In addition to the athletes, three coaches are also soldiers from the World Class Athlete Program.
Sullivan, the member of the bronze-winning rugby team who was competing in her first Olympics, started playing the sport during…
