The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1407083
46 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER eing an Olympian was not necessarily on Lucas Koze- niesky's radar when he was a student at NC State. He can still remember walk- ing into his first team meet- ing with the Wolfpack's rifle team thinking, "What did I get myself into?" Kozeniesky spent most of his years in Raleigh being present in the moment, so much so that it almost snuck up on him the summer following his junior year when he was walking with the American team at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Five years later, Kozeniesky is not only now a multiple-time Olympian, he's a medal- ist. Teaming with Mary Tucker, Kozeniesky won silver in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event. COVID-19 restrictions meant that Koze- niesky didn't have the traditional placement of the medal ribbon around his neck on the podium. He had to do that himself, but it did not rob him of any of the emotional glory that stems from a lifetime accomplishment. "I was very surprised by how heavy it was putting it on," Kozeniesky acknowledged. "After I put the medal on, it was almost like a sense of relief. All this emotional weight, physical training … yes, this was affirming. I was able to do this." Kozeniesky had entered the Olympics on a roll, a boost in confidence that he attributed to making an adjustment in his training. "A lot of it was rooted in this holistic ap- proach," he explained. "I am looking into nutrition. I was looking into working out. I'm smarter about the equipment that I use, the ammo that I put through the guns, the time spent behind it, what training really looks like. B Medaling For The United States Former NC State Rifle Star Lucas Kozeniesky Brings Home A Silver From The Olympics " After I put the medal on, it was almost like a sense of relief. All this emotional weight, physical training … yes, this was affirming. I was able to do this. " Kozeniesky Kozeniesky teamed with Mary Tucker to place second in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event, and placed sixth in the individual 10-meter air rifle. PHOTO COURTESY USA SHOOTING