HOUSTON -- For many athletes, qualifying for the Olympics is a lifelong goal. But a Katy man has been there and done that -- twice. So, anything short of a medal will be a disappointment for Glenn Eller, who hopes the third time will be the charm, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Eller, 26, knows all too well how training alone for shooting's double trap can be a lonely experience.

"I was driving from here to downtown Houston every day, 75 miles to train by myself. If I had a bad day, that drive sucked," he said.

Less than satisfied with his showing in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, he decided to make a radical change.

Eller and Jeff Holguin, an occasional shooting partner, were persuaded by Staff. Sgt. Bill Keever to join the U.S. Army.

That way, they could train together and push each other to get better.

It sounded like a good idea, until basic training.

"Every day I was saying, thanks Jeff, I could be in Houston, thanks a lot. It was the right decision. It wasn't easy, but it was the right decision," Eller said.

It's hard to argue with results. Both men qualified for Beijing and do most of their shooting on the Army base at Ft. Benning in Georgia.

But several times a year, Eller, Holguin, and a few friends retreat to the Eller family farm in New Ulm -- a quiet, sleepy town 30 minutes from Sealy.

"Actually Glenn and his family refer to the piece of property as a farm. First time I was blown away. I was expecting to see horses, cows, and pigs," Holguin said.

There's no place Eller would rather be and no place on earth he'd rather be from.

"I love representing Houston. I love this city. I try to make it back as many times as I can," he said.

For now, Eller has a gold medal in his sights.

More Information:

Local 2 Olympics Section
Olympic Bio: Glenn Eller
Olympic Bio: Jeff Holguin