Launi Kay MEILI

Launi Meili was a rifle shooter who competed for the US at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, highlighted by her small-bore rifle gold medal in Barcelona. Meili competed in small-bore and air rifle at both Olympics. Meili also won six medals at the Pan American Games, with three golds won in 1991, two silvers in 1987, and a silver in 1991. During her career she set three world records. Meili retired from competition after the 1992 Olympics and entered coaching.

Meili graduated from Eastern Washington University and then earned a masters’ degree in sports psychology from the University of Idaho in 2001. She served as assistant coach to the US National rifle team from 1997-2000. She was then head coach at the University of Nebraska, leading them to a #2 national ranking in 2004-05. Meili later became the head coach at the Air Force Academy. She is a member of the International Shooting Hall of Fame, the Eastern Washington Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Inland Empire Hall of Fame.