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August 13, 2004 2:45 pm

Shooter Turner pictures success

By Steve Rivera

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Jason Turner visualizes success and a medal at his first Olympics.

"That's all part of it,'' said Turner, who participates in air and free pistol events on Saturday and Tuesday.

Turner, a Rochester, N.Y., native, said, ``I picture the range I will be on. I know and have an understanding of how they look. I use a lot of that in preparing for now.''

Anything that works. It's helped him to this point after finishing second in the U.S. trials last fall.

It also helps that he has participated on the course - as most USA Olympians have - here two months ago in the ISSF World Cup.

It was then he finished fifth in the 50-meter free pistol and 43rd in the air pistol.

``In the air I just had an off day,'' he said. ``But I feel really confident at the Games. It gives you a good idea what to expect mentally.''

It helped that he had a very good Pan Am Games last year, making him one of the up-and-coming shooters for Team USA. It also got him a mention in Outdoor Life Magazine as one of the country's top young shooters.

``Anytime you win it always boosts your confidence,'' said Turner, 29. ``I had strong confidence coming into this year. So for the most part I've shot fairly well.''

Now comes his biggest test and yes, it's been a bit imposing the last couple of days here in the grand stage of the Olympics.

``Getting here and seeing everything puts in on a different scale,'' he said. ``I'm in a little in awe of how big it actually is.''

With that, he'll seek out some former Olympic veterans and get some advice to go with his visualization of winning a gold.

``I just try to get as much knowledge in how to deal with all the media and different athletes in the village.''

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