Ruth Mwandumba

Ruth Mwandumba
Personal information
Full nameRuth Pemphero Mwandumba
Citizenship
  • British
  • Malawian
Born (1995-08-06) 6 August 1995
Education
Sport
CountryUnited Kingdom
SportShooting sport
Event
10 m air rifle
Medal record
Women's shooting
Representing  United Kingdom
ISSF Grand Prix
2023 Ruse 10m Air Rifle
Representing  England
CSF(ED)
2018 Northern Ireland 10m Air Rifle
2018 Northern Ireland 50m Prone Rifle
2022 Wales 10m Air Rifle
2022 Wales 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team

Ruth Pemphero Mwandumba is a British sport shooter, specialising in 10 metre air rifle.[1] She has been English Champion twice, and has set two British records. She medalled twice at the 2022 Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships.

Personal life

Born in the UK to Malawian parents,[2] Mwandumba grew up in Merseyside,[3][4] attending St Mary's College, Crosby. She studied Medical Physiology at the University of East London, and gained an MSc in International Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University.[5]

In 2024, she won the Pride of Sefton Award for her sporting performance and work on the #TargetChange initiative.[6]

She gave birth to twins in 2025.

Shooting career

Mwandumba started shooting through her school's cadet contingent.[4]

Whilst at university, she joined the Stock Exchange Rifle Club, learning to shoot air rifle and smallbore rifle.[4]

In February 2018 she was selected to represent England at InterShoot,[7] becoming the first black woman and second black person to represent England in shooting sports (after Nathan Sutherland).

She became English Women's Air Rifle Champion for the first time in 2018.[4] At the Commonwealth Shooting Federation (European Division) Championships in September 2018 she won a silver medal in the 10 metre air rifle and bronze in the 50 metre prone rifle.[8][9]

Mwandumba gained wider prominence in 2020 when she was featured in an editorial in The Daily Telegraph, discussing race and sport.[4][3]

In 2022 Mwandumba launched the #TargetChange campaign with British Shooting, the Womens Sport Alliance and Eley.[10][11][2][12] The project ran "have-a-go" days around the UK to change the perceptions of target shooting sports and encourage participation from more diverse communities.[13][14]

In 2023, Mwandumba signed with Lacoste as a brand ambassdor, alongside Olympians Ashleigh Johnson and Marcel Nguyen.[15]

In 2024, Mwandumba was a travelling reserve for TeamGB to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.[16]

In January 2025, Mwandumba was selected for the 2025 European 10metre Championships whilst expecting twins.[16][17][18]

References

  1. ^ "Ruth Pemphero MWANDUMBA". issf-sports.org. International Shooting Sport Federation. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b Paul Eddison (14 October 2022). "Black History Month: Ruth Mwandumba, challenging shooting stereotypes and Targeting Change". Team GB. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b Katie Falkingham (29 January 2021). "Generation Next: GB shooter Ruth Mwandumba on making lasting change in her sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e Fiona Thomas (31 August 2020). "'I drive in British Shooting clothing in case I get stopped by police' - Ruth Mwandumba on life as a black international shooter". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Ruth Mwandumba profile | Liverpool John Moores University". Liverpool John Moores University. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  6. ^ Andrew Brown (4 May 2025). "Ruth Mwandumba, the first black athlete to represent Great Britain and England in shooting, sets sights on Olympic glory". standupforsouthport.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Intershoot - Complete survey of the scores" (PDF). intershoot.nl. Royal Netherlands Shooting Sport Association. 5 February 2018. pp. 5, 22, 43. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Commonwealth Shooting Federation (European Division) Championships" (PDF). csfed.org. pp. 4, 10, 11. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  9. ^ Andy Baber (7 June 2019). "I'm still aiming for the Games says Ruth". Liverpool Echo.
  10. ^ Nick Hope (8 March 2025). "Pregnant GB shooter Mwandumba's twin aims". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 March 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  11. ^ "#TargetChange Launches". British Shooting. 14 July 2022. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  12. ^ Tom Ivers (26 April 2024). "Liverpool target shooter Ruth Mwandumba aims to boost sport's diversity". MerseySport Live. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  13. ^ "St. Mary's College puts the spotlight on Olympic sport of Target Shooting". stmarys.ac. St. Mary's College Crosby. 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  14. ^ "British Shooting launches #TargetChange". rifleshootermagazine.co.uk. Field Sports Press. 14 July 2022. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  15. ^ Nigel Taylor (4 January 2023). "US, British and German sports names among new ambassador trio at Lacoste". Fashion Network. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  16. ^ a b Nick Hope (8 March 2025). "Pregnant GB shooter Mwandumba's twin aims". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  17. ^ Rachel Steinberg (9 March 2025). "Pregnant target shooter Ruth Mwandumba confident she can block out distractions". Yahoo! Sport. Press Association. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  18. ^ Jo Gunston (8 March 2025). "Sport shooting trailblazer Ruth Mwandumba on competing while pregnant with twins and improving diversity in her beloved sport". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 19 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.

Ruth Mwandumba at the International Shooting Sport Federation

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