For 2025, the National Rifle Association of America is instituting a new Golden Bullseye award from Shooting Sports USA—the “Competitor Award.” The inaugural recipient of the NRA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award is legendary competitor and trainer Rob Leatham.
The NRA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award recognizes a competitive shooter who not only displays outstanding performance in competition, but also gives back by offering guidance and support to the next generation of competitive shooters.
With a career spanning more than 40 years, Rob Leatham is among the best competition shooters of all time. He’s an eight-time IPSC World Champion and eight-time World Speed Shooting champion, along with 11 Bianchi Cup wins under his belt in multiple divisions. Additionally, Leatham has won a whopping 24 USPSA National Championship titles, plus seven IPSC World Championship titles.
In 1985, Leatham made history as the only shooter to win the Triple Crown of practical pistol shooting—the Bianchi Cup, IPSC U.S. Nationals and Steel Challenge—all in the same year.
As for training, Leatham is a sought-after instructor for championship shooters, the military, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as civilians for self-defense. Not only that, he’s spent time at Hillsdale College as an instructor for the school’s action-shooting team.
A longtime member of Springfield Armory’s shooting team, Leatham has also provided input on the design of several firearms from the company.
The 2025 NRA Golden Bullseye Awards, including the new Competitor Award, the Pioneer Award and the Freedom Award, will all be presented in person at an invitation-only event during the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia, in April.
