Photo: Facebook / Elizabeth Gustafson

By Shaun Penner

Pan Am Games

Local shooter named to Canadian Air Pistol team for 2019 Pan Am Games

Jun 22, 2019 | 7:00 AM

A shooter from Grande Prairie has been named to the 2019 Pan Am Games team in Women’s Air Pistol.

Elizabeth Gustafson has been named as an alternate for the squad, which will take part in the summer sporting event in Lima, Peru beginning July 26 and running until August 11. The event features many different summer sports, with countries of the Americas taking part. The event takes place every four years, with the last one being hosted in Toronto in 2015.

This is a great step for Gustafson, whose goal is to one day represent Grande Prairie (and Canada, of course) at the Olympics in the sport she has been training in since she was a child.

“It was my Mom who got me interested in shooting. Her father had taught her to shoot and thought that we should learn to shoot,” said Gustafsson. “So, I went to the junior program at the Wapiti Shooters Club… and learned how to shoot and just kept going.”

Now, for those unfamiliar with how Air Pistol competitions work, Gustafson breaks it down for us.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

“We shoot air pistols, .177 calibre, and we stand 10 metres away from the target. We shoot 60 shots, and our maximum score on each shot is a 10 (for a total maximum of 600 points) and we have about an hour, hour and 45 minutes to do that.”

Unfortunately, at this point for Gustafson, she will not be making the trip next month as alternates do not get to travel down unless they are called upon. However, she says she will be supporting her friends and teammates from afar and will be ready to go if she is called into action.

“I hope they do well there. There’s some spots for the Olympics on the line,” said Gustafson. “I’ll be cheering!”

In the meantime, Gustafson will continue to train and prepare for competition at the Wapiti Shooters Club, while also coaching the junior program in her spare time.