The top five in contention for the ISSF Men's Rifle Athlete of the Year award have been confirmed, to be announced during the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 ISSF World Cup Final in Doha, Qatar, on 5 December.
Based on the votes of independent specialists from the ISSF Athletes' Committee, Coaches Committee and a selected panel of media, the top five in men's and women's rifle, pistol and shotgun have been determined. All athletes were eligible for voting.
The top athletes, in alphabetical order, are as followed.
Based on the votes of independent specialists from the ISSF Athletes' Committee, Coaches Committee and a selected panel of media, the top five in men's and women's rifle, pistol and shotgun have been determined. All athletes were eligible for voting.
The top athletes, in alphabetical order, are as followed.
Jon-Hermann Hegg
Despite a strong record to date, the Norwegian Jon-Hermann Hegg had never won an individual ISSF World Cup gold medal heading into 2025. He matched his best result with a silver in Munich in the men's 10m air rifle, adding his first solo gold in the 50m rifle 3 positions final. Along with Jeanette Hegg Duestad, he won two mixed team golds too in Lima and Ningbo.
Munich was a stellar event for him, also winning bronze in the mixed team event, as well as bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions final in Ningbo. He made finals six times from his nine appearances and would go on to win the European title in the 50m rifle prone and finished fourth in the 50m rifle 3 positions.
No individual medals would follow at the ISSF World Championship, but it was still a strong showing - finished fourth in the 50m rifle 3 positions and 12th in the 50m rifle prone, with two team medals to boot.
Despite a strong record to date, the Norwegian Jon-Hermann Hegg had never won an individual ISSF World Cup gold medal heading into 2025. He matched his best result with a silver in Munich in the men's 10m air rifle, adding his first solo gold in the 50m rifle 3 positions final. Along with Jeanette Hegg Duestad, he won two mixed team golds too in Lima and Ningbo.
Munich was a stellar event for him, also winning bronze in the mixed team event, as well as bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions final in Ningbo. He made finals six times from his nine appearances and would go on to win the European title in the 50m rifle prone and finished fourth in the 50m rifle 3 positions.
No individual medals would follow at the ISSF World Championship, but it was still a strong showing - finished fourth in the 50m rifle 3 positions and 12th in the 50m rifle prone, with two team medals to boot.
Ilia Marsov
The AIN athlete has been one of the most impressive rifle athletes on the ISSF World Cup circuit this year, which came to its peak in Munich.
Finishing fifth and 10th in the 10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3 positions in Buenos Aires, Ilia Marsov returned in Munich, coming bitterly close to winning the gold in the 50m rifle 3 positions, if not for a stray last shot. His silver would soon become gold 24 hours later, when he won his first World Cup gold in the 10m air rifle event.
Ningbo saw solid results of sixth and 11th in the 10m and 50m distances. He would also win European silver in the 10m air rifle.
He would make the 10m air rifle final in Cairo at the ISSF World Championship too, finishing eighth.
The AIN athlete has been one of the most impressive rifle athletes on the ISSF World Cup circuit this year, which came to its peak in Munich.
Finishing fifth and 10th in the 10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3 positions in Buenos Aires, Ilia Marsov returned in Munich, coming bitterly close to winning the gold in the 50m rifle 3 positions, if not for a stray last shot. His silver would soon become gold 24 hours later, when he won his first World Cup gold in the 10m air rifle event.
Ningbo saw solid results of sixth and 11th in the 10m and 50m distances. He would also win European silver in the 10m air rifle.
He would make the 10m air rifle final in Cairo at the ISSF World Championship too, finishing eighth.
Istvan Peni
Hungary's Istvan Peni saw a start to the season to remember - a gold-silver combination in Buenos Aires in the 50m rifle 3 positions and 10m air rifle events were followed by bronzes in both in Lima.
The streak of medals ended in Munich, but he showed why he is consistently a finalist. He finished fourth in the 10m air rifle in Ningbo, following on from the 50m rifle 3 positions fifth place in Munich. Only one of his eight individual results saw him finish outside the top 10.
One of the highlights of his season saw him take the European title in the 50m rifle 3 positions final. Peni was unable to add to his three individual world medals in Cairo, but would finish fourth in the 50m rifle prone, and just missed the 10m air rifle final, placing ninth. Still, a season to remember.
Hungary's Istvan Peni saw a start to the season to remember - a gold-silver combination in Buenos Aires in the 50m rifle 3 positions and 10m air rifle events were followed by bronzes in both in Lima.
The streak of medals ended in Munich, but he showed why he is consistently a finalist. He finished fourth in the 10m air rifle in Ningbo, following on from the 50m rifle 3 positions fifth place in Munich. Only one of his eight individual results saw him finish outside the top 10.
One of the highlights of his season saw him take the European title in the 50m rifle 3 positions final. Peni was unable to add to his three individual world medals in Cairo, but would finish fourth in the 50m rifle prone, and just missed the 10m air rifle final, placing ninth. Still, a season to remember.
Jiri Privratsky
Similar to Istvan Peni, Jiri Privratsky has been a regular at the top, and this season was no different. In both Lima and Ningbo, he took the victory in the 50m rifle 3 positions during the ISSF World Cup season. A bronze came in Munich in the distance too - giving him three medals in three appearances.
He signed off his season before Doha with a silver medal in the 300m standard rifle open event, also placing fifth, sixth and 11th in the men's 300m rifle 3 positions, 300m rifle prone and 50m rifle 3 positions.
He also recorded three eighth-place finishes at the European Championships.
Similar to Istvan Peni, Jiri Privratsky has been a regular at the top, and this season was no different. In both Lima and Ningbo, he took the victory in the 50m rifle 3 positions during the ISSF World Cup season. A bronze came in Munich in the distance too - giving him three medals in three appearances.
He signed off his season before Doha with a silver medal in the 300m standard rifle open event, also placing fifth, sixth and 11th in the men's 300m rifle 3 positions, 300m rifle prone and 50m rifle 3 positions.
He also recorded three eighth-place finishes at the European Championships.
Sheng Lihao
The Olympic champion Sheng Lihao still remained amongst the best in the world this year, winning world bronze again this year in a high-quality 10m air rifle field. While he did not take the title individually, he would in the mixed team event.
He also took his fourth ISSF World Cup gold medal with victory in Lima and followed up with bronze in Munich and silver in Ningbo. Munich and Ningbo also provided mixed team silver medals for the 20-year-old. His lowest result of the season came in the season opener in Buenos Aires, when he finished ninth.
The Olympic champion Sheng Lihao still remained amongst the best in the world this year, winning world bronze again this year in a high-quality 10m air rifle field. While he did not take the title individually, he would in the mixed team event.
He also took his fourth ISSF World Cup gold medal with victory in Lima and followed up with bronze in Munich and silver in Ningbo. Munich and Ningbo also provided mixed team silver medals for the 20-year-old. His lowest result of the season came in the season opener in Buenos Aires, when he finished ninth.