This documentary opens with Austin Koo, Vera Koo’s son, speaking over footage of his mom shooting at the range. He compares his mother with other, “typical,” moms – unlike other moms who watch TV after dinner, his mom is cleaning guns and loading ammo
This video kicks off with local news footage of Vera Koo, now-retired champion pistol shooter, as she began in the shooting sport. Footage of her in action on the range is included, and quickly transitions to an in-person sit down with Koo. Lively interviews with Koo cover a lot of ground, starting with her traditional Chinese upbringing.
“From what I can remember, my mom raised me to be a good wife. A good wife, a good mother, very good daughter-in-law, a very good person. A good housewife, maybe a good cook… In any case, I was raised to be a subservient, very good, Chinese woman.” – Vera Koo
But that is not the path that Koo followed. In interview form, she explains her college education, which was not anticipated by her traditional family. She talks about the education that she also received from the shooting sport. As a competitor, you have to rely on yourself, and can never be scared. Read more about Vera’s experience and accomplishments, here.
Vera Koo: Champion Shooter
“Vera Koo’s belief that the United State of America is a place where opportunities can flourish, for any woman with focus, determination and discipline can succeed beyond anyone’s expectations, at any age.” – narrator
This video continues with further interviews with Vera Koo, where she details the various types of shooting competitions that she has trained for and competed in. She attributes her mental toughness to being able to perservere in the world of professional shooting.
Interview with Jim O’Young
Jim O’Young, famous steel target shooter, met Koo early on in her professional shooting career, and became her mentor. In Vera’s words, from a blog she penned for Women’s Outdoor News:
Jim O’Young became my first mentor, and he remains a good friend and teacher to this day. It was like fate brought us together…
I had completed some gun training courses but was a no-name in the shooting sport when I met Jim in 1991. I had recently decided to start competing in sport shooting, but I needed direction. I had bought a competition gun but was not happy with how I was performing with it...
I told Jim about the issues I was having with my gun. Jim is a frank man. After hearing my story, he leveled with me and asked, “Is it the shooter or the gun?”
This video contains a sit-down interview with Jim, as he describes working with Vera over the span of many years.
Vera Koo: Bianchi Cup
Another highlight of this video is the explanation of Vera’s association with the Bianchi Cup in Columbia, Missouri. Included in this detail is an interview from Julie Golob (nee Goloski), who was her teammate at the World Action Pistol Championship in New Zealand. They have also competed at the Bianchi Cup.
Vera Koo: Balance
The video comes to a close with an interview from Vera, where she talks about striking the balance between being a traditional and more independent Chinese American woman. She also speaks enthusiastically about her continued passions and goals, and skills she plans to learn in the future. She is at the point in her career where she wants to give back to others. She is a woman who does not quit!
Continue watching Vera’s videos on her YouTube channel.
The Most Unlikely Champion
Read more about Vera Koo’s life and rise through the world of professional shooting, in her memoir, The Most Unlikely Champion, sold here.
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