Archer From Minn. Aiming For Olympic Gold

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Almost before he could even hold his own bow, Jeremiah Cusick was setting his sights on a bull's-eye.

"I was watching Olympic style [archery] and it seemed like something I wanted to try, and I've been hooked ever since," Cusick said.

Like his dad, he was an avid bow hunter growing up. But it wasn't until the 19-year-old caught the eye of an Olympic coach that he realized just how good he could be.

"I like how you really have to do well under pressure. The competition side of it," Cusick said.

After watching Cusick at a junior dream camp, U.S. Olympic archery coaches invited him to the Olympic Training Center in San Diego.

And because he was so intrigued by the opportunity, Cusick graduated from Forrest Lake High School a semester early so he could begin training.

Now, he shoots from as far as 100 yards away -- with little margin for error.

"It's all mental. It's 100 percent mental. In the Olympics, you have to keep them all in the gold otherwise you don't have a chance," Cusick said.

He has moved all the way to number 6 on the U.S. team. And if he stays on target, he has a chance to move into the top three. That would mean a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in 2016.

"It would mean the world. It would be awesome. Nothing compares," Cusick said.

Cusick is able to take classes at the Olympic Training Facility.

He says his days consist of shooting bow and arrow for hours, and then working towards a degree.