People in the world of NRA shooting know the family name Yackley. Becky and Mark Yackley and their 3 sons (Tim, Sean and Andrew) have been showing up at shooting matches for several years. People are beginning to learn one Yackley’s name though, and that is Tim Yackley. Tim won the NRA World Shooting Championship in September 2018 and became the youngest shooter to claim that title. He added that one to an impressive collection of titles throughout his teen years, making him a rising shooting star.
NRA Family: When people ask you what you do, what do you say? Elevator speech length.
Tim Yackley: I compete in various types of shooting competitions – from pistol, shotgun and rifle, to all three. I work, on top of everything else in my life, to represent a number of different companies within the shooting industry...mostly social media work, but also a number of articles and videos and product development.
NRA Family: What’s your history in the shooting sports, and how did you get to where you are today?
Tim Yackley: I started shooting when I was young – BB guns and .22s at my grandpa's, that sort of stuff – and grew up with a Marine as a Dad, so interest in firearms and the military was only natural. I started competitive shooting in the fall of 2011 at the Area 8 Junior Camp, and started 3-Gun in fall of 2012. Since then, I have shot an average of about 15 major matches or events a year: from SHOT show, to National Matches, to traveling overseas for World Championships. Firearms aren't just my soccer, or baseball or football; it's literally something I interact with when I work, when I play, when I goof off, when I travel. It’s my hobby, job, sport and life.
NRA Family: Do you consider yourself to be an ambassador for the shooting sports? Why?
Tim Yackley: Not in the common term of "ambassador." I don’t represent something just because I’m given it or paid to, I am an athlete, above all, and I use what I believe is the best equipment to win. Being someone to try and sway an opinion, or bridge a social gap, is never my goal. I simply want to show people how far hard work, without dumping a ton of money into a sport, can get you.
NRA Family: Have you encouraged or inspired others whom you know to try shooting? Do you have any stories about that?
Tim Yackley: There have been a few, from people saying they were incredibly nervous to meet me, from adults wishing they could "be like me when they grow up." But, I never think of myself in a higher way than others; it's still difficult sometimes for me to ever think I could inspire someone. I always want to be approachable and always willing to help new shooters, not like some pro golfer living some amazing life, that you can't ever play with or pick their brain, or socialize with. One of the biggest things my parents have tried to teach me is to never have a big head.
NRA Family: What does the future hold?
Tim Yackley: This year holds much more specific practice, an IPSC World Shoot, and some amazing partnerships with new brands this year that I hope to last a long time. Beyond that, figuring out what I really want to do – from my career, starting a family, education and just getting things settled. No matter what, I'm going to keep shooting, along with some of the best shooters in the world!
NRA Family: Is there a particular discipline in shooting sports that you’d like to improve in?
Tim Yackley: There are all sorts of areas to improve in. I try to pick one gun a year to mostly focus on, but I must keep things interesting, otherwise, it gets very repetitive. This year I am focusing on IPSC Rifle for the upcoming World Shoot in Sweden this August.
NRA Family: Usually, young people get tremendous support from family members … what’s your story?
Tim Yackley: I wouldn't be able to do what I can without the support from mostly my family, and my friends. That is part of what makes our family such a strong team. My parents are huge role models to me – my dad is an officer in the Marine Corps Reserves, and my Mom does all sorts of different jobs, with a lot of writing, but always constantly working. It takes a lot of work to do what we do, and without everyone in the family pitching in, it wouldn't work.
NRA Family: What else do you like to do when you’re not training or shooting?
Tim Yackley: I've started playing paintball recently, although it technically counts as training. I enjoy my fair amount of non-fiction reading, a lot of history such as WWI though the ’80s, keeping up with current politics as they relate to the sports and lifestyle I live. I also enjoy working with computers – I’ve built four in the last few years – as well as some video games when I have time...all still centered around guns!
NRA Family: How can people follow you through social media?
Tim Yackley: People can follow me on Instagram at @timyackley and on Facebook by liking my page, Tim Yackley Practical Shooting.
Check out this profile on Tim Yackley at Shooting Sports USA!
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