Trained by his grandfather, 16-year-old Lucas Loftin is making Canadian shooting history

On the surface, 16-year-old Lucas Loftin is your normal everyday teenager.

But hand the Kitchener, Ont., teen a rifle, and he transforms into one of Canada's most promising young sharpshooters. 

Loftin is in Innisfil, Ont., this week to compete for his third consecutive Canadian Junior Shooting Championship. Supporting him during his rapid rise in the sport is his grandfather and coach, Glynn Loftin. Glynn is a former member of the national team and won the same junior title 50 years ago.

"My grandfather got me into it about five years ago," Lucas recalled during a recent interview at the Twin City Rifle Club in New Hamburg. "He'd pick me up from school and take me to the range and slowly I just fell in love with it."

That passion has led Lucas to many victories. At just 13-years-old Lucas set the national record in prone position shooting. The prone position in shooting is when the shooter is lying on their stomach on the ground.

Lucas also set the Ontario indoor three position record in August 2024. Three position is where shooters fire from three positions: Prone, standing and kneeling.

But Lucas is not just winning against his peers; he's beating experienced shooters twice to three times his age. Lucas says he doesn't let the more experienced shooters get in his head. 

"One shot can make or break a match. So it can be nerve wracking. But when you look over at the target and see you had a good shot , it's a nice feeling," he said.

For Glynn, his grandson's success is a big source of pride. He says seeing Lucas win the same championship he won 50-years-ago was a thrill for him.

"That was fantastic, absolutely excellent. In my efforts to coach him all I can do is give him the best opportunity to put out his best