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Tampa, Fla. -- Emil Milev earned a silver medal in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympic Games. He was competing for Bulgaria in the 25 meter rapid fire pistol.
It was Milev's only Olympic trip where he returned home with a medal. He also found what would become his new home country.
Milev moved to the United States in 2001. After making his fourth Olympic team for Bulgaria in Athens in 2004, he decided that would be his last.
Milev became an American citizen in 2009.
"Everybody say America is the land of opportunities," Milev said. "I had a pretty good life back in Bulgaria... but for my kids, I think they will have better opportunities here, so that's what drove us."
Milev settled in Tampa and became a physical education teacher at Booker T. Washington Elementary School. But he continued to practice at Shooting Sports in Tampa. Now eight years after what he thought were his last Olympic Games, Milev will represent the U.S. in London.
"Definitely it's gonna be different (representing the U.S.)," Milev said. "I think it's gonna be, I can say, even better... It just feels good to be part of that team."