Martin Šlechta

Sport: Centerfire rifle hunting tetrathlon, Rimfire rifle tetrathlon, Hunting rifle shooting, Combined game shooting (L4K, trap, hunting compak sporting, centerfire rifle running target)

Firearm model: ZKM 456 rimfire rifle, CZ 527 Varmint, CZ 557 .243 Win., CZ 557 6XC cal.

Nationality: Czech

Year of birth: 1978

City, Country of residence: Jaromerice nad Rokytnou, Czech Republic

Occupation: Executive Director of OBALFRUKT, drevarska vyroba spol. s r.o. and Lovecky svet s.r.o.

Languages: Czech, passive German and English

How and at what age did you start with sport shooting and competing in individual disciplines?

I've been shooting game since I was really young. I grew up at a gamekeeper’s lodge, where shooting was a daily routine. When I was in high school, I was shooting at running targets with an air rifle and rimfire rifle. In 2006, I started with the L4K and K4M disciplines. In 2008, I added combined disciplines and participated in the European Championship in combined game shooting for the first time. In the years that followed, I started actively participating in the World Championship in hunting rifle shooting up to 400 m.

What do you like best about shooting?

It's a relaxing activity after work, calms my mind, improves gun handling and self-control, and is an activity where I can meet friends.

Why did you choose CZ?

CZ guns are very reliable. I’m a patriot and pleased when I can take a peek intot their development.

How and why did you join the CZ Shooting Team?

I am probably on the CZ team because of my results using CZ guns. I've been working with CZ representatives in the marketing and development departments since about 2010. I've been on the CZ Shooting Team since 2017.

How do you prepare for a competition?

My preparation is both physical and mental. The physical part is “dry” training or shooting at the shooting range, sighting-in my weapon, verification of ballistics at various distances, etc. It's time consuming and means traveling to the nearest 300 m shooting range, which means I can’t spend as much time doing it as I would like. All of this preparation is mostly right before a competition.

The mental part is about calming my mind, clearing my thoughts, concentrating, finding motivation for elite performances, adjusting biorhythms, reducing my heartbeat and being able to pull the trigger at the right moment. I carry out this mental training whenever I can find the time.