Morgan Hicks is no stranger to big competition. In 2004, she was the NCAA Smallbore Champion and an Olympian at the Athens Games. But the Olympics were the last event she fired until the World Championship tryouts at Fort Benning, GA in April 2006. For even a seasoned veteran like Hicks, nearly two years could seem like an overwhelming layoff to return from.

“I did not intend to be away from shooting for that long,” said Hicks who was plagued by medical issues after the 2004 Olympics. “I became very anemic and would pass out randomly, so picking up a gun was out of the question. Finally I went to the doctor and found that I had a tumor on my reproductive organs,” said Hicks who had surgery last November to remove the non-cancerous tumor. “After surgery you just can’t jump right back into it, but after about two months I decided I really wanted to go to the World Championships.”

But recovering from surgery was not the only thing on her plate, Hicks also helps coach the Murray State University Rifle Team where she is in her second year of graduate school. “It’s hard to practice during our season because I have classes like everyone else. And if I were to practice at the same time as the team it would defeat the purpose of me being a coach. Since it is not a typical practice situation like when I was an undergrad and I don’t have all the time in the world, I made every minute count!” said Hicks. After the NCAA Championships in March her range time increased to five or six times a week, but she was left with little time to prepare as the April tryouts loomed near.

“Going into the tryouts I was so nervous, this was my first match since the Olympics! It was scary, not knowing if I still had it, what scores I might shoot. I don’t count any scores I shoot unless I shoot them in a match, so practice scores are just that, practice. I was also worried because I don’t have access to an outdoor range. All my smallbore practice is on a 50-foot indoor range, this is to prepare for a 50-meter outdoor match,” recounted Hicks.

The lack of outdoor training facilities and the long layoff appeared to have little effect though as Hicks finished the first day of smallbore competition in second place. She held her position behind fellow Olympian Emily Caruso to finish second in smallbore and qualify for the World Championships. But Hicks’ mission was not complete, she also finished second in air rifle, her Olympic event, to double qualify for Worlds.

She will now have a packed summer as she travels with USA Shooting in preparation for the World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia which will be held 22 July through 5 August. This is great news for Hicks, though she will be greatly missed this summer at the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Junior Three-Position Summer Camps where she was scheduled to be a counselor for her second summer in a row. No fear though, there will still be a Hicks family member on staff as her younger brother Cameron will take her place.

“I am healthy now, practicing as much as I can, and still wanting to go further with my shooting. I love this sport and am so blessed to have the opportunities that I have been given. Murray State has been really good to me and totally supports what I do. The team is always encouraging me as well. I hope to represent the United States well this summer and maybe even bring a little recognition to our sport,” said Hicks.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program wishes Morgan Hicks and all the athletes who qualified for the World Championships the best this summer as they travel to Croatia. To follow the results of the World Championships and the US National Team visit http://www.usashooting.com.