Winchester has announced the signing of ISSF para trap shooter Sophia Bultema. The 18-year-old sport shooter hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and will be shooting Winchester’s AA target loads at the upcoming National Championships at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. She will also represent the U.S. and Team Winchester at the World Championships in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Sophia recently competed at the World Cup France, where she set the junior world record in qualification and the final, becoming the first woman in para trap history to make a World Cup final.
“Sophia has an inspirational story of overcoming adversity while maintaining an excellent outlook and striving to do her very best,” said Matt Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing for Winchester Ammunition. “She is an exceptional sport shooter and we’re extremely proud to have her as a member of Team Winchester and ambassador of the shooting sports.”
After living the first six years of her life in an orphanage in China because of her limb difference, Sophia was adopted by her parents and brought home to Colorado Springs. Sophia has grown up in a shooting sports family, receiving a toy shotgun for her first Christmas in the states.
Sophia began competing with her high school team through the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) because of the accessibility to shooting sport. Soon after starting with the high school team, Sophia was introduced to para trap, where she has earned the right to represent the United States in this emerging sport that is on track to be added to the Paralympic Games.