Kim Rhode Continues to Dominate Shooting
Shooting might not be most the high-profile of athletic events, but when the Summer Olympics rolls around every four years, the most prominent name in the sport gets a chance to assert her dominance and gain international glory.
Kim Rhode, 33, has become the American face of the sport of shooting, and for good reason. She captured another gold medal when she won the women's skeet shooting competition on Sunday. Rhode tied a world record, and set the Olympic mark by hitting 99 of 100 shots at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.
Rhode, who is competing in her fifth Olympics, has taken home a medal all five times. She now has three gold medals, a silver, and a bronze, making her the only American athlete to win medals in five consecutive Olympiads.
"It's just been an incredible journey," said Rhode, who started shooting at age 10. "And ultimately, I couldn't be happier for bringing home the gold for the United States."
But Rhode may be just getting started.
Shooting is an event that can be dominated by any age group, meaning Rhode could be in for many more medals to come. The Southern California native is coached by her father, Richard Rhode, and shooting is essentially her full-time job, and she trains every day.
Her father boasts of her focus, eyesight, and eye-hand coordination.
Rhode fires between 500 and 1,000 rounds, each training session costing between $400 and $600, according to Reuters.
"I'm not looking at this as my last Olympics," said Rhode. "I can go a very long time, that's the beauty of shooting.
"It's not a flash-in-the-pan type thing. I definitely don't see an end in sight."
Rhode may not be done winning medals in London. The women's trap event takes place on Aug. 4, and Rhode is one of 22 competitors in the event. She has won two gold medals (1996, 2004) and a bronze (2000) in double trap.
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