U.S. Olympic Marksman Sagen Maddalena Shifts Her Sights for More in Paris

PARIS – Sagen Maddalena dons an American uniform every day. Today, it just happened to be worn at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Maddalena took fourth in the women’s 10-meter air rifle final at Chateauroux Shooting Centre instead of Fort Moore, Georgia, where she trains shooters in the U.S. Army.

The U.S. Army Sergeant spends her non-Olympic days in the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), the U.S.' primary academy for training competitive shooters. Maddalena serves as a shooting instructor for the USAMU. 

“It was incredible to watch,” said Lt. Col. Casey Mills, Maddalena’s USAMU Commander. “I was nervous but very proud of her. Most importantly, I got to see the work she has put in every day pay off and validated by making the final. It was a very proud moment for me as the commander.”

Maddalena is a two-time Olympian returning to the Games after placing fifth in the women’s 50-meter rifle 3 positions (smallbore) competition at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. On Monday, she placed fourth in the women’s 10m air rifle competition, her first Olympic air rifle final. 

“I feel excited, I feel like I could throw up right now,” Maddalena said after qualifying for the final. “I am just excited for the opportunity to be a sportsman on the biggest stage there is in the shooting events.”

Maddalena held down the fifth-place position through her first five shots of the final, briefly moved into fourth, but remained in fifth through 10 shots. As other competitors were eliminated, Maddalena shot well, pushing her way into fourth after 14 shots. 

She trailed gold-medal winner Hyojin Ban of Korea, China’s Yuting Huang, and Switzerland’s Audrey Gogniat the rest of the way. Maddalena made a brief push for third after her 16th shot, but was hurt by a 9.9 on her 18th fire. Gogniat, the bronze medalist, fired a 9.9 on her 19th shot, allowing Maddalena to close the gap with a 10.4. Maddalena was ultimately eliminated from competition by a 9.8 on her 20th and final pull of the trigger, scoring a total of 207.7 points on those 20 shots.

“I am a little bit speechless,” Randy Maddalena, Maddalena’s father, said. “It is a huge accomplishment. … It drains you because this competition is such a high level … I am super proud for her, of what she has accomplished, and what she will continue to accomplish.” 

Though she missed out on a medal in the 10m air rifle final, Maddalena will shift her sights to the 50m rifle 3 positions competition that begins on Aug. 1. Maddalena took the bronze medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions competition in the 2023 world championships.

“I am super excited,” Maddalena’s father said as he looks forward to watching his daughter compete in smallbore on Thursday. “She is prepared. She has done everything she has needed to do and has worked harder than anyone. I am going to watch and enjoy.”