How El Monte's Kim Rhode Got Her Shot at Olympic History

Olympic shooter Kim Rhode of El Monte is gunning to make history at the London 2012 Olympics. She grew up shooting, competing in four Olympic Games, winning four medals – two of them gold

And she is a six-time national champion. She has a shot at winning an unprecedented fifth medal in five Games in London.

"Shooting for me has just been a way of life. It has been passed down generationally. My grandfather was a houndsman. He taught my dad. My dad taught my mom. My mom and dad taught me,” said Rhode.

She’s been training seven days a week, averaging anywhere between 500 to 1,000 rounds a day every day.

Rhode won a gold medal in Atlanta in 1996 at the age of 17. Four years later, she won a bronze in Sydney, then another gold in Athens, followed by a silver in Beijing.

But shooting isn’t everything for Rhode. She collects and fixes antique cars and has about 4,000 first edition children’s books.

"I try to collect the unusual, the things that have the history," she said.

Days after making the 2012 Olympic team, Rhode got devastating news. Doctors had discovered a lump in her breast. It was benign, but the surgery kept her from shooting for six weeks.

"You don’t want people to know. And then, you realize that it is so important that people know because it may help someone else down the line," she said.

Now she is in London competing in both trap and skeet. After her events, she hopes to enjoy the rest of the games as a fan.
 

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