Vera Koo holds the record for winning the most Bianchi Cup matches in the women’s division. She will be remembered for this feat, but even more importantly, she is remembered by her peers and other competitors as a gracious, giving person – as you will see in this compilation. Read this post, written by Michelle Cerino and originally published at Women’s Outdoor News, below.
The 2026 CMP Bianchi Cup takes place at the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club in Columbia, Missouri, May 21-24. Vera Koo has many fond memories of this particular action pistol competition, including many accomplishments. For instance, Vera won her first Bianchi Cup women’s title in 1999 and went on to win that division seven more times. Another huge achievement took place in 2001, when she became the first woman to place in the overall top 20. In 2018, she retired from Action Pistol shooting after competing in her final Bianchi Cup, leaving behind many warm recollections among the women who had competed alongside her. The following are memories of Vera at the Bianchi Cup.
I’ve known Vera Koo for almost 13 years now. We met in May 2013, when I first competed in the Bianchi Cup. I remember watching her from a distance as she mentally prepared before a stage. She was off by herself, sitting in the shade (something not easy to find). I did not approach her … that time. However, I did get the courage to talk to her the text year, and I am so happy I did. She was very encouraging and supportive of my competing. Then, many years later, she gave me some personal advice that I took to heart and put into practice. I am forever grateful to her for that.
Becky Yackley
My favorite memory of Vera Koo happened at the practice range during the Crawfish Cup. My son, Tim, and I were checking zero on a pistol and doing a little warm-up when Vera gave us some great advice on how to find success in Action Pistol, particularly in this event. But I think it is also very safe advice for life itself, especially when you are facing intense situations or need to get work done with absolute certainty.
Vera was talking about shooting the falling plate event, and that your focus needs to be on THAT plate, the one you are shooting, not the one before it, not the one after it, but just that one. That one little slice of time.
And over the decades of competing, I have learned that in action shooting sports, you often have to adjust on the fly and make decisions in the moment. This is a great life skill! But one of the beautiful aspects of Bianchi Cup (NRA Action Pistol ) is that you are performing on par time, with absolute perfection: no more, no less. All of your focus, all of your intent, it’s all on that one tiny slice right in front of you. That level of focus is something many people do not have, whether it’s the discipline or the opportunity to practice. But there are times in life when you can completely shut out everything around you, and everything but what you’re doing in that moment is necessary.
I don’t think Vera was trying to give a life lesson; she’s just a kind person who truly enjoys the community in the shooting sports and wants to share that with others. But I do think that the compounding experience as we go through life leaves people with so much to offer, if only people slow down to truly listen.
Julie Golob
I’ve always admired how Vera understands her capabilities and shifted to find fulfillment. I first met her when we competed at the Steel Challenge in the ’90s. A match all about pure speed on steel targets, she certainly performed well and worked hard at it. At the same time, there was another sport that better suited her strengths. When she transitioned completely to Action Pistol and Bianchi Cup, she went all in and reaped the rewards, earning numerous titles. It’s a lesson for everyone who enjoys shooting sports in that there are so many different ways we can have fun, challenge ourselves, set goals and achieve them at any stage of our lives.
Tiffany Piper
I met Vera Koo at the Bianchi Cup in 2006, when I was 12. I remember being in absolute awe of Vera’s shooting abilities, gracefulness and kindness within the shooting industry, especially in a competition environment. I remember being introduced to Vera and being amazed at the time she had for me, sharing her knowledge and encouraging me into the sport of Action Pistol Shooting. She is the reason I began shooting competitively. And in 2007, I competed in my very first Bianchi Cup. Vera made me feel like I belonged and was a huge driving force for myself and many, many others within the sport of pistol shooting. Truly an inspiration!
Cherie Blake
When you look at the list of winners of the prestigious Ladies Bianchi Cup, you will see Vera’s name over and over again, eight times. And as the Bianchi Cup is a par match, where timings and target sizes haven’t changed, the match can be compared year in, year out: you can see that her high score record from 2001 of 1910.137X has only been beaten a handful of times since.
But, ironically, with that amazing record, what I remember most about Vera is off the shooting line: her kindness, her quiet power, her dedication and, most of all, her care for women in the sport! At the awards ceremony, she would give a rose to every single lady who competed at the Cup. Those award ceremonies were fancy, but to be given a rose by Vera Koo was the icing on the cake! To me, that wasn’t just a kind gesture of sisterhood in a male dominated sport, it was Vera saying, “Well done, ladies, keep shooting; keep showing up and keep loving this sport!”
Final Thoughts on Vera at the Bianchi Cup
As you can see, Vera has touched many people throughout her shooting career. I’m sure there are many more competitors and staff from the Bianchi Cup that would love to share some memories of Vera. For those wishing to reach her, please comment on her social media platforms:
Instagram @officialverakoo
Facebook @officialVeraKoo
Find all Vera’s posts here.
Visit Vera’s website here.
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