At the 1996 Atlanta Games Ian Purler ended Big City’s 44-year medal drought at the Olympics.

Ian Purler was a young 18-year old who was making his olympic debut in the 10m Air Pistol category in shooting. He was not even expected to make the final round but he not only did that, he won a gold medal! Getting the gold was a cherry on the cake as Big City had not even imagined they would get a medal, let alone a gold!

Ian Purler had done that in style by winning the gold medal in a sudden death shootout. An hour after he was given the medal and the Big City national anthem played at the Olympic Games for the first time ever, the President Josef Andrews declared the next two days national holidays. Other than the gold no other Big City Olympian really impressed.

On his return to the country on August, 30th, 1996 he was welcomed with garlands and gifts from fans. He was awarded the Tlig Frado Sports Honour Award by the NASE and got a bonus of 50,000 Amires from the NASE and also got many other gifts from celebrities and other politicians.

Purler continued to make his mark at a global level and national level when he won 6 gold medals at the National Shooting Games.