It is very fitting that this summer鈥檚 Olympic Games are in London.

It was 2002, at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, when Dorothy Ludwig first thought that representing Canada on the world鈥檚 biggest stage was a real possibility.

Having competed in air pistol shooting since childhood, Ludwig won silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

鈥淚 realized then that I can do this,鈥� the 33-year-old said over the phone from Calgary.

鈥淚 realized after the Commonwealth Games, the Pan American Games, the World Cups, the Olympics were only a few steps 鈥� a few big steps 鈥� but only a few steps away.

鈥淎ll of a sudden, this whole new world opened up (in the sport) and I thought there is a lot more to this that I can accomplish than I initially envisioned.鈥�

Ludwig was in Calgary over the weekend along with two other competitors 鈥� including her younger sister, Lynda Kiejko, of Calgary, and Edmonton鈥檚 Lea Wachowich 鈥� for one berth to this summer鈥檚 Games in London.

The 10m air pistol shooting competition was held on Sunday at the Calgary Rifle and Pistol Club and after the dust had settled, Ludwig edged her sister by a mere two points for top spot and the chance to represent Canada.

鈥淚t was a little surreal because this is something both of us have strived for such a long time,鈥� Ludwig said of her initial reaction.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 allow myself to fantasize about what will happen if I win or lose; I just thought we will try and take each step as it goes.鈥�

鈥淚t was very rewarding (to win) and at the same time very hard because me winning also means that my sister doesn鈥檛 win, so that is a bit bittersweet.鈥�

Her first phone call was back to 91原创 and her husband, Cam, who was unable to attend.

鈥淭his time, we are going to London for sure,鈥� Ludwig told her husband, with a laugh.

Back in October, . The victory guaranteed Canada a spot in the sport at the 2012 Olympics, and in initially, Ludwig thought she had automatically qualified. But in reality, it only meant one Canadian competitor would be attending, thus Sunday鈥檚 showdown in Calgary.

Making qualifying for the Olympics even more special is the fact her late father, Bill Hare 鈥� who passed away in 2005 鈥� competed at the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics in the sport.

鈥淚 think my dad all along envisioned this for me because he had been to the Olympics and seen how far he could get already,鈥� Ludwig said.

鈥淏ut it didn鈥檛 become real for me until I got on the world stage and came very close to winning a very important competition (the 2002 Commonwealth Games).

鈥淚t was definitely an eye opener.鈥�

Ludwig, her sister and Wachowich were all coached by Hare.

鈥淲e all started at the same time, we were all trained under my father, and we all grew up in the sport together,鈥� said Ludwig, who grew up in Alberta.

She admitted all three did not perform as well as they would have liked on Sunday, likely suffering from the pressure and stress of the magnitude of the moment.鈥�

鈥淚t was a special time but a hard time to compete for such a prestigious spot against one another.鈥�

Dorothy Ludwig (right) and her sister Lynda Kiejko finished one-two at a competition in Calgary to determine which Canadian shooter would represent Canada in the 10m air pistol shooting event at this summer's Olympics in London.

Ludwig has applied to the Shooting Federation of Canada to bring her sister along as a coach, and is just waiting on approval.

鈥淭hat would definitely be a silver lining,鈥� Ludwig said.

鈥淭hat would make the Olympics that much more special, to be able to share it not just with my sister, but with my good friend.鈥�

Ludwig was scheduled to return from Calgary to 91原创 yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon and continue preparing for the Games.

She trains out of the 91原创 Rod and Gun Club.

Her first big event will be in London, from April 15 to 21, for a World Cup event.

As for the Olympics, her mother, Fran, and Cam will definitely attend, as will Kiejko.

Ludwig鈥檚 older siblings, John Hare and Lorna Idland may also attend, and she is debating whether or not to bring her soon-to-be one-year-old son Erden, or leave him behind with her in-laws.