An ambassador for para-sports and shooting sports

Issy Bailey (30) has achieved a lot in her career: as a British para-sport shooter, she took part in three Paralympic Games and became an ambassador for her sport. At the IWA OutdoorClassics 2025 in Nuremberg, she not only shared her experiences as an athlete, but also her view on the importance of this sport for people with disabilities.

Written by Stefan Jablonka

Three people sit on a stage, two men on chairs and a woman in a wheelchair, in front of a blue background.

Bailey was originally a talented field hockey player until an accident changed her life. During her rehabilitation, she came into contact with shooting sports at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. It was a chance encounter that turned out to be life-changing: "I tried the sport, the team liked me and they thought I had talent." Within a year, she was a member of the British national team.

For Bailey, the sport was not only a way back into the sporting world, but also a way to build a new identity as a competitive athlete. Target shooting gave her a platform to advocate for equality for people with disabilities - both in sport and in everyday life.

The IWA as a meeting place for innovation and networking

IWA OutdoorClassics is the world's leading trade fair for hunting and shooting sports and offers a platform for experts, manufacturers and athletes. For Bailey, the trade fair is a new experience: "This is my first time in Nuremberg and I'm excited to see what I discover here."

Although she does not act as a brand ambassador for a specific manufacturer, she sees the value of such trade fairs for competitive sport: "It's about innovation, exchanging ideas and further developing equipment. Shooting athletes are constantly looking for improvements, because in our sport millimetres can make the difference between winning and losing."

A lively indoor area with lots of people, signs and signposts, such as “4A” and “EYES ON TARGET”. — With 30,000 visitors, IWA Outdoor Classics 2025 emphasised its importance for the hunting and shooting sports industry.

Precision, concentration and mental strength

While many sports depend on physical strength and speed, shooting is primarily a mental challenge. "Shooting is 75 percent a psychological sport," explains Bailey. "The best athletes are those who are not distracted by external influences - be it the pressure of a competition or unpredictable conditions."

For Bailey, this heavy mental strain was also one of the main reasons why she retired from competitive sport after the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. "It's mentally brutal. The constant preparation, the pressure, all the traveling - at some point it was time for me to do something new."

A woman in a red and blue sports outfit aims a pistol at a target. — "Shooting is 75 percent a psychological sport," says Issy Bailey.

A viral moment for the shooting sport

Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç is a good example of how the public perception of shooting sports is changing. He caused a stir at the most recent Olympic Games because he competed with a nonchalance that is unusual for shooting sports and without the usual equipment: one hand in his trouser pocket, the other calmly on the trigger. "I think he showed a lot of people that sport shooting is an incredible feat of precision," says Bailey. "It was nothing new for us in the sport, but for the spectators it was fascinating to see how someone could be so relaxed and so precise at the same time." This viral moment helped to make the sport of shooting accessible to a wider audience and break down prejudices.

Shooting and public perception: a controversial topic

Shooting is a sport that is often viewed controversially in the public debate. For Bailey, it is important to dispel misconceptions: "Many people see a firearm and immediately think of violence. But sport shooting is about precision, discipline and control. Our weapons are specially developed for sport and are subject to strict regulations."

Especially in the UK, where gun laws are very restrictive, access to sporting firearms is highly regulated. "There are maybe 30 people in the country who have a license for our pistols," says Bailey. Nevertheless, she sees a growing acceptance of shooting sports, particularly due to its inclusivity.

Three people are sitting on a stage, one woman in a wheelchair, all with microphones. — At IWA Outdoor Classics 2025, Issy Bailey gave personal insights into her career.

Equal rights in shooting sports - men and women on an equal footing

One of the special features of shooting sports is that men and women compete at the same level. Unlike in many other sports, there is no gender segregation in para-sport - all athletes compete in the same competitions. Bailey sees this as a major step forward for equality: "We have the same competition conditions, the same rules, and it's the performance that counts."

A look into the future

Although she has ended her career as an active athlete, Bailey remains closely connected to the sport. Alongside her doctoral studies in literature, she continues to advocate for para-sport and is open to new opportunities. "I want to use my voice to continue to move para-sport forward and inspire people to not let challenges stop them."

Her visit to the IWA is another step in this direction - as an athlete, as an explorer and as an ambassador for a sport that combines precision, mental strength and inclusion.

Author

Stefan Jablonka

Freelance journalist