U.S. skeet shooter Kimberly Rhode wins gold

Kimberly Rhode of the U.S. competes in Women's Skeet Shooting on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games, at The Royal Artillery Barracks on July 29, 2012 in London. / Lars Baron/Getty Images

Updated

(AP) LONDON - Kimberly Rhode won the gold medal in women's skeet shooting Sunday, making her the first American to take an individual-sport medal in five consecutive Olympics.

Rhode tied the world record and set an Olympic record with 99 points. Wei Ning of China took silver with 91 points and Danka Bartekova of Slovakia got bronze by beating Marina Belikova of Russia in a shootout after they tied with 90 points.

Rhode won a gold medal in double trap at Atlanta as a teenager in 1996, took bronze in that event four years later at Sydney, re-claimed the gold at Athens in 2004 and won the silver in skeet at Beijing in 2008.

In qualifying, Rhode set another Olympic record, missing only one of her 75 shots. Rhode led by four points entering the final, and the way she was connecting Sunday, there was no way she was getting caught.

"It's just been an incredible journey," said Rhode. "And ultimately, I couldn't be happier for bringing home the gold for the United States."

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USA Shooting touted it as the biggest day in shooting history.

Rhode was a perfect 25-for-25 in each of the first two qualifying sessions, then ran her streak to 65 straight hits before her lone qualifying misfire. Several people watching on a chilly, rainy day at the Royal Artillery Barracks sighed in disbelief at the miss, which Rhode shrugged off with ease.

When qualifying was complete, she flipped the last of the empty shells from her gun, gave a brief fist-pump, followed by a wave and a smile. Rhode thanked several well-wishers as she walked away, moments before rain started falling significantly harder.

The field started with 17 women from 17 nations, before getting pared to six for the final later Sunday.

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London Olympics: July 28-29, 2012

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TruthFactsEvidence says:: I praise Kim in winning her 3rd Gold Medal in the Women's Skeet Shooting event. I wish CBS News Radio's, World News Roundup report, today (Monday, July 30, 2012) 8:00 PM EST, would have given her Complete Recognition. By this I mean, that when the news reader read the story on Kim Rhode they mentioned everything but, which sporting event it was, there was no mention that it was, Women's Skeet Shooting. I find this very hard to believe this was an "accidental" omission. I mean, the facts they did give about Kim, her Gold Medal and and records she broke had no meaning when the listeners had no idea of what the Olympic sport she was competing in was. I almost think it was an intentional omission by CBS because of the recent shooting's in Colorado. They may think having Olympic shooting sports somehow glorify guns. I hope that I'm wrong.; reply

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venusvegasvada says:: Congratulations!

It reminds me of many years ago when a lot of the US Army posts had their own Trap and Skeet ranges. Those days are long gone (Army pulled most of them out in the 80's, cost cutting). It was fun while it lasted though.; reply

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freeamerica31 says:

It's not really an Olympic sport. A rich person with little athletic ability lobbied the Olympic Committee full of wealthy people to make it an Olympic sport.

Too many of these Olympic events that in my mind are ridiculous...let's start with Professional Sports: Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Soccer/Football to name a few but not all.

Badminton, Equestian, Cycling.

How about they allow Chip Tossing in the future since I know a bunch of farm boys who are real good at that? What's next?


venusvegasvada replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Marksmanship not really an Olympic sport? Really?

Actually, if you look at the original Olympic games, you'll see that almost every event was based on one form of combat skill or another.

Just the opposite, your list looks like a who's who of non Olympic events, in the classic sense.


FreeWillieTX replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; I can see you have never held a shotgun nor shot at a clay being thrown at 100 MPH. Your pathetic attempt to marginalize a serious sport is indicative of someone that prefers the couch and a bag of Doritos.