Kim Rhode Wins Bronze in Women's Skeet

Olympic skeet shooter Kim Rhode made history today in Rio, after winning the bronze medal in women's skeet. She is the first female to ever medal in six consecutive Summer Olympic Games. 

Rhode had placed fourth in the semi-finals. The finals ended in a shoot-off with Rhode and Wei Meng Wei of China. Both shooters dropped only one clay prior to the shoot-off. The crowd gave Rhode a standing ovation at the end of competition. Diana Bacosi of Italy won the gold medal. Rhode's USA Shooting teammate Morgan Craft was eliminated in the semifinals shoot-off. 

Kim Rhode's Olympic shooting career will certainly stand the test of time, with six medals in six Games. Rhode broke the women's skeet Olympic record with a near-perfect score of 99 at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A versatile shotgun competitor, she has medaled in both double trap and women's skeet.

• 1996 Atlanta Games, gold medal, double trap
• 2000 Sydney Games, bronze medal, double trap
• 2004 Athens Games, gold medal, double trap 
• 2008 Beijing Games, silver medal, skeet
• 2012 London Games, gold medal, skeet
• 2016 Rio Games, bronze medal, skeet

In an interview with Kevin Neuendorf of USA Shooting before heading to Rio, Rhode spoke of her legacy:

“Legacy is such a big word. It’s about passing on what you love to the generations behind you. It’s about making sure my son and other people’s kids will be able to enjoy this sport and to enjoy the outdoors. I’m hoping that’s what my legacy will be. You should be giving of your time. You should want to give back. What am I going to do with a shiny new medal when I’m 80. When I’m dead and gone, people aren’t going to have the same impression of this sport or me if I don’t give them something to experience. I realize the importance of what I’m doing for my sport.”

A staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, Kim Rhode addressed the 2012 Republican National Convention, and has criticized gun control measures in her home state of California.

Earlier this week in an interview with Time Magazine at the Olympics, Rhode said:

"We should have the right to keep and bear arms, to protect ourselves and our family. The Second Amendment was put in there not just so we can go shoot skeet or go shoot trap. It was put in so we could defend our First Amendment, the freedom of speech, and also to defend ourselves against our own government."

Photo courtesy of USA Shooting.