López: "My father’s dedication is what has allowed me to improve my performance"

Step by step. This is what the agronomist Ricardo Lopez thinks of his career in Practical Shooting. Vice-world champion in 2005 and champion in 2008, the Ecuadorian Revolver division shooter knew he had one more step to take. At the age of 34, he had to beat the American Jerry Miculek, a legend in IPSC Revolver division, who had been out of the World Shoot in Indonesia. And he made it. In 2011, Ricardo Lopez won the world championship in Greece, leaving the “rival” in second place.

However, for those who think that the result came by natural means, since Miculek is a veteran in the IPSC, Ricardo Lopez wishes to say no, and that to win the legend of the Revolver division, he had to have the best performance of his life, exalting the American’s  presence.

- In the 2011 World Shoot, having the blessing of getting to win the championship for the second time, I was lucky to have Mr. Miculek present in the competition. Moreover, it was one of my best performances in a competition and I got through Jerry Miculek that for me has been and will always be one of the best shooters in the world. Only in this World Shoot I was luckier than him and that’s why I won (laughter) – Ricardo Lopez says.

Jerry Miculek, a legend in IPSC Revolver division

In his victories, Ricardo Lopez is keen to give great credit to Don Cesar Lopez, his father and best friend. The athlete says that Don Cesar was a great pistol shooter, and even today, he still fires good shots. However, he gave up competing in order to dedicate himself to training Ricardo, watching his videos and other athletes’ around the world, planning new training techniques in order to refine his son even more as an IPSC athlete.

- My father’s dedication is what has allowed me to improve my performance at an uncountable percentage, as we practice the sport together and that’s what I like best – says Ricardo, who also reveals that he works for his father in a farm, where they grow palm trees.

The training planned by Don Cesar is tough. Ricardo begins at 4:30 am with two hours of dry fire training. Then he helps his father on the farm. At 7pm, he goes through a series of one hour dry fire training. This is repeated in six of the seven days of the week. “In Ecuador is not very easy to obtain ammunition. It is very expensive and we do not have much support from government or private companies, “he explains.

In his preparation for the 2011 World Shoot, Ricardo Lopez fired about 12,000 shots over three years. “I would have shot more, but it was all we had and it was very well invested, strictly following my father’s instructions.” The most important thing is that it worked out. In the end, he was granted his second title in Revolver division in the World Shoot.

(Photo: El Comercio) Ricardo López: "A sportsman is never sufficiently prepared"

- The vice-championship in 2005 was special for being in my country with my entire family present. I was also honored to share this happiness with a great shooter and friend, Mr Guga Ribas, runner-up in Modified at the time. In 2008, it was bliss: I had been the first Latin American to be world champion. And the best in 2011 was having my family with me and their seeing me at the podium in a World Shoot. This is something I have to thank God, because it may never happen again – he states.

Despite the happiness of being world champion, Ricardo Lopez believes that some changes could be made in order to make the Revolver division more attractive to new shooters.

- The revolver is a very difficult weapon to master and the six shot limitation is a big challenge. I believe that one way of increasing the number of participants in the Revolver division is to change the power factor, both the major and the minor. The major could be 160 as in the Open division and the minor 120 since the original ammo in the market, the .38 caliber SPL (which is relatively easy to buy), is about 121 in power factor – he states.

The preparation for the next challenge in 2014, has already begun. Ricardo has returned to his daily training routine after two weeks of resting. But asked if he feels ready to be the “target” of the other contestants in the upcoming tournaments, he recognizes that there is still much to be done.

- A sportsman is never sufficiently prepared. I thank God that my father identified, while I was competing in the World Shoot, many things at which I’m failing, things I can improve. Thus, there is much work ahead. Being a world champion or not, is something that is only valued in a given championship and at one point in which there are many factors that influence the outcome. In this World Shoot I was very lucky in many ways and the only thing on my mind is doing the best I can in every competition – Ricardo Lopez says