06/29/2025
“Aiming for the Gold!”
Lisa Markland, a patient at Germantown Physical Therapy, is a service-connected Air
Force veteran, retired child and family therapist and avid volunteer. She was the top
female Paralympic precision rifle athlete in the U.S. nearly 20 years ago, and is back,
vying for a spot on Team U.S.A. with plans to attend the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic
and Paralympic Games in 10 meter air rifle.
Precision shooting sports have been part of the Olympics since 1896 and the
Paralympics since 1976, with very minimal modifications to the positions (but not the
equipment or level of difficulty) for Paralympians. In this sport, athletes shoot a 0.177
in. pellet into a 0.180 in. 9-ring hole with a bullseye that’s only a pinpoint 0.5 mm which
is 10 m (~33 ft) away... with no scope on the rifle! They have to load and prime each
pellet individually and do that with exacting precision 60 times in 50 minutes, where
even an extra heartbeat could lose a match. The finals are even more competitive!
Having graduated summa cm laude from her bachelor’s degree and holding a
master’s degree in clinical social work, Lisa always strives to be the best at all she
does, and that includes her many athletic achievements, both before and since her Air
Force spinal cord injury and other medical challenges, up to the national and
international levels.
Lisa came to Germantown Physical Therapy approximately 2.5 years ago after a
complex total knee replacement necessitating multiple additional surgeries, and began
ongoing care with owner Milo Ferraro, help that has been life-changing and allows her
to live with significantly reduced pain and improved function.
The U.S. is the only country that doesn’t fund its Olympic or Paralympic athletes until
they are officially on Team U.S.A., a process that can take years of purchasing
extremely expensive equipment and covering travel and fees for ranking matches
worldwide. She has a GoFundMe to help offset these costs, and any contributions or
Always striving to leave the world better off, Lisa believes everything is possible, even if
done differently. Her motto, "There are no obstacles, only opportunities," reflects her determination and perseverance as she continually works to inspire and positively
impact others in any way possible. She now hopes to achieve that on the biggest
worldwide stage!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b91k9IcWD_Y
Almost 20 years ago I was the top female Paralympic air rifle… Lisa Markland needs your support for Support My Dream to Represent Team USA on the Medal Stand!
