Just Lena

The Girl from Shootout Lane is Doing Well for Herself

Introduction by Paul Pawela
Photos by Lena Miculek

The name Miculek is synonymous with family royalty in the shooting world. Let’s start with Jerry Miculek, a legend in the 3-gun and speed shooting community. Jerry officially holds five sanctioned world records in revolver shooting and over 15 unsanctioned records with firearms ranging from 9mm semiautomatic pistols to the .50 BMG Barrett M107 rifle. He holds over 100 national and world shooting titles, including International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Revolver World Champion, United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) 3-Gun National Champion, and 21-consecutive-time International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts open division International Revolver Champion.
Jerry is married to Kay Clark-Miculek, a legendary shooter in her own right. She is a two-time IPSC Handgun World Shoot gold medalist in the open division lady category, the only woman to hold an IPSC gold medal in pistol, rifle and shotgun categories, the winner of 14 USPSA national titles and has been the top woman in the Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championship seven times. Of interesting note, Kay is the daughter of Jim Clark Sr., an NRA Bullseye Pistol national champion, who is also the only person to win both the Pistolsmith of the Year Award and the Outstanding American Handgunner Award.

THE MICULEK LEGACY carries on with Jerry and Kay’s daughter Lena. Lena has become a giant in the shooting industry, not only as a competitive shooter but also as a firearms educator and a product developer in the firearms industry. She started shooting competitively when she was 8 years old and earned her first world title at 17 (Shotgun World Lady Standard Gold Medal). Now with more than two decades of competition experience under her belt, Lena holds 10 world titles in five different shooting disciplines: rifle only, shotgun only, pistol-caliber carbine (PCC), multi gun (pistol, rifle and shotgun) and the NRA World’s Greatest Shooter. Among her other titles are three PCC national titles, 20 PCC championships, over 50 3-gun championships, and hundreds of championships and high lady titles in various disciplines. American Shooting Journal spoke with Lena about her illustrious career and her family’s legacy in the shooting world.

American Shooting Journal– What was it that got you into shooting at such an early age?
Lena Miculek– I began competing at 8, not because of a great passion or interest (that came much later), but because I didn’t want to be bored at yet another match my parents were shooting. I joined a team for the Sportsman’s Team Challenge and won what seemed, at the time, the largest medal ever made! They even started a Sub Junior category the next year, and my all-girls team went on to win it again and again.

ASJ Was your dad or mom more influential in getting you started? What is one trait or thing each taught you that you’d like to thank them for?
LM Both of my parents led by example. I always had an open invitation to join them on the range, ask questions and get support, but they never took on the traditional “instructor” role. They were my role models and training partners. When they went to the range, they were pursuing their own greatness, always willing to share, but always chasing their personal best.
My parents’ greatest influences were: My dad’s insatiable curiosity for shooting techniques, mindset and vision set a standard of “custom fitted” excellence for me. His humility, kindness and lighthearted spirit taught me how to endure pressure and expectations. My mom’s unwavering support of even her greatest competitors showed me that being a good person always comes before any title or award. Her level-headed, straightforward and ruthlessly competitive mindset taught me when and how to strike.

ASJ Did you feel any pressure to do well knowing your parents’ accomplishments?
LM I’ve always wanted to do well for myself; making them proud is just a bonus. Early on, people who hadn’t accomplished much themselves often tried to use my parents’ success against me, as if their greatness meant there was no room left for mine. But that was never the mindset in our household. Their achievements were theirs, earned through their own dedication and sacrifices. My accomplishments are mine, a reflection of my own journey and hard work.

ASJ How did you feel going into your first competitions?
LM My very first match? I only remember the giant medal they gave me for being the youngest competitor they’d ever had. The first one I really remember was the 2012 Superstition Mystery Mountain 3-Gun. I was nervous; those stages were wild compared to the tiny bit of training I’d done. My mom invited me to shoot it for my 17th birthday. The first stage started with a rifle I’d barely used, trying to make holds I didn’t understand, leading into pistol and shotgun chaos. I was overwhelmed, confused and absolutely hooked. By the end, my adrenaline was through the roof; I couldn’t see straight. It was chaos, misses, unplanned reloads, maybe even a blackout moment in the middle, but somewhere in that war I sparked my passion.

ASJ What is it about competitive shooting that you like the most?
LM That there’s truly a place for everyone. Firearms are for everyone, competition or not. I’ve competed alongside people from ages 12 to 82 and shared the range with shooters from all over the world. The community and shared pursuit of excellence are what I’ll remember long after the trophies fade.

ASJ How many hours do you train?
LM As much as I need and as much as I can. That might mean shooting all day, every day for months, or weeks of nothing but dry-firing my EDC. I rotate disciplines – competition, EDC, trick shooting or just shooting for fun – so my training is always evolving.

ASJ Are there any hobbies or interests you enjoy away from shooting?
LM Absolutely! I’m an adventure enthusiast and a forever student, chasing curiosity wherever it leads. I may be a pro at shooting, but I’m a thriving amateur at dozens of other things: running, scuba diving, hiking, archery, cooking, painting, crafting, sewing, journaling, yoga, Zumba, lifting, bowling, reading, storytelling, mountain biking, snowboarding, design, knife throwing, crocheting, Legos and kayaking. I also love a good two- to four week trip exploring new places, eating my way through local spots with a rotating crew of family, friends and, of course, my dog Letty Lue.

ASJ What would you be doing if you hadn’t gone into competitive shooting?
LM By 15, I had my GED and had already worked dozens of odd jobs – cleaning houses, flipping burgers at events, home renovation, holiday decorating, even doing makeup and flowers for weddings. My first nine to-five was at a clothing boutique. It was nice, but that’s where I learned one big lesson: I’d never spend my time sweeping the floors of someone else’s dream. That realization led me right back to shooting.

ASJ What’s your favorite gun to shoot for fun and competition?
LM It changes constantly, but right now I’m having a blast with the 2011 platform. Nearly all my pistol experience has been with polymer models, so this is a fun new chapter. I’m running a pistol my cousins at Hayes Custom Guns built; they studied under my grandfather, Jim Clark Sr., at Clark Custom Guns, the shop I grew up next to on Shootout Lane. Representing three generations of firearms professionals makes it even more special.

ASJ What’s your favorite memory or experience with your parents?
LM Just one? Impossible. They’ve been my parents, training partners, competitors, supporters, adventure buddies, bosses, mentors, teammates and friends. They’re one of the greatest gifts of my life.

ASJ After so many accomplishments, what’s next for you?
LM I didn’t win world titles by disliking hard work! These days, my biggest goal is building a life where I get to work
alongside the people I love and respect. I have an incredible team of four helping me bring big ideas to life, all chasing my North Star: helping others become confident, competent firearms owners.
It’s where everything I’ve done comes together – firearms, creativity, teaching, design. Product development has been an exciting blend of my shooting experience and my love for crafting and problem solving. Teaching online and in person challenges me to distill years of knowledge into clear, memorable lessons. And through social media and our Trigger Tribe community, I get to connect directly with others walking their own firearms journeys. It’s deeply fulfilling.

ASJ Is there anything in shooting you still hope to accomplish before you stop?
LM First off, I’m not going anywhere! I already have IPSC Team Golds in rifle, shotgun and PCC, so naturally, I’ll need to grab one with a pistol one day. But my bigger goal is to create easy, welcoming pathways for new shooters across every firearms platform I’ve mastered. I want to climb all the way to the top so that I can walk back down and help guide others to start their own journey.

ASJ Best moment of your career? Biggest regret?
LM The day I launched Rose by Sig Sauer [a firearms education system featuring a 9mm, gunsafe and access to training videos]. My parents and sister were there, teary-eyed, watching me take a huge leap of faith on myself and bring a dream to life. As for regrets? None that outweigh the lessons they taught me.

ASJ How much longer do you see yourself competing?
LM As long as I find purpose in it. I love winning, but I love the “why” behind competing even more. It’s about personal growth, community, family legacy and building a life fueled by passion, purpose and care for others. ★