By Chris Avena
Gabby Franco has been a professional competitive shooter since 1996 and she has been breaking down barriers every step of the way. In 2000 Gabby was the first woman to ever represent the Venezuelan Shooting Team in the Sydney Olympic Games. In 2012 she made her first appearance as a contender on the History Channel’s TOP SHOT where she became the first woman to ever advance to the final stage of the competition. Following her outstanding performance, Gabby was invited back as the only woman to compete in the All-Star Season of TOP SHOT.
Through hard work and dedication Gabby has become one of the most recognized women in shooting sports today. Gabby is a staunch advocate of our second amendment rights and dedicates endless hours to her craft. We were fortunate enough to catch up with Gabby at the NRA Convention in Indianapolis this past April and true to form, she was very accommodating in granting us an interview.
Chris: I am here with Gabby Franco at the Walther Booth at the NRA convention. Gabby, thanks for taking the time.
Gabby: Thank you for having me. I'm glad to be here with you and share some information with your viewers.
Chris: How did you get into shooting?
Gabby: I have been shooting for believe it or not for over 25 years. I started shooting Olympic shooting, Air Pistol specifically and 22 caliber. I did it because my dad went to the gun range. He was trying to get his concealed weapon license back in Venezuela where I'm from and to do that, he needed to do one shooting class. So when he went to the gun range, he learned that they had a junior shooting team and he was like, hmm. Not only that, when he started seeing these children, because there were children, they were using some weird guns. He had never seen an air pistol before. It was an Olympic air pistol. He got curious. He figured that I have two girls at home. So, and that's how my two sisters and I started shooting.
Chris: You became pretty good and you got on the Venezuelan Olympic team.
Gabby: Yes. So, there's no way to get away from training. I trained really hard. When people say, oh, you're a good shooter. I'm like, yeah, but that is a result of a lot of training, a lot of hours, a lot of sacrifices as a teenager. When my friends were just probably partying and drinking. I was preparing for new competitions, traveling overseas or doing dry firing. I became part of the Olympic shooting team. I started shooting on a bigger teams and I that is how I made it to the Olympic games in 2000 in Sydney.
Chris: So you were one of the first women to make the Venezuelan Olympic Team?
Gabby: Well, I actually was the first woman to make it to the Venezuelan Olympic as a shooter. We had Venezuela have had different Olympic athletes before and even Olympic shooters, but men, never a female. And I was the first one. So that was quite on surprise for everybody and to me it was such an honor to represent my country back then.
Chris: Well you've broken down a lot of barriers and you've done a lot of firsts. You were the first woman to win top shots.
Gabby: Well, no, I didn't win top shot.
Chris: You were a finlist.
Gabby: Well yes, exactly. I was one of the only woman who has gotten so far in the competition who got a green shirt. And, that determination of never giving up. It is hard, it is not easy, but when you are involved in competitions there are obvious challenges. There are things that make you doubt. I cannot say that I always thought that I was the strongest woman. No, there were times where I fell down. There were times where I failed. Oh my God, what am I doing here? I am competing with a bunch of men. But at the same time it was that strong mindset that I have learned in Olympic shooting to keep myself focused on what I wanted to do and what I needed to do in order to achieve great things. And that what got me through everything and got me as far as I did.
Chris: Well, you are pretty disciplined.
Gabby: Yeah, I try.
Chris: Now you have a new book out.
Gabby: I do. Well, I mean that has been for a little while. It's called “Troubleshooting, Mastering Your Pistol Marksmanshipâ€. The reason I did that book (it's all about the fundamentals) is that people keep it inside of the range bag. It is expensive to have a coach or a trainer all the time with you. People do not have the monetary resource to have a coach next to them all the time. But being able to have the book that you have any problem that you see a certain issue such as - I'm shooting low left or I think I'm anticipating the shot. It is a reminder of your technique. Shoot take the book out of the range back and read it again. It is more of a reminder, more like a guide for shooters.
Chris: And where can we find all your information? Where can we find your book?
Gabby: You can buy the book on Amazon.com or you can go to my website, www.Gabbyfranco.com and then you're going to go to the shop and that is where you will find my book.
Chris: Gabby, I appreciate your time. It's always a pleasure to see you.
Gabby: Thank you. Thank you so much.
