TUCSON, Arizona (July 12, 2018)
The USA Shooting Team opened the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club today by claiming gold and silver in the Women’s Skeet event.
Six-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode (El Monte, California) claimed the 18th World Cup gold medal of her career – 30th World Cup medal overall - battling heat, delays, as well as her teammate Caitlin Connor (Winnfield, Louisiana) down to a shootoff.
“I had to work for that one,” a tired Rhode exclaimed as the applause began when Rhode won the shootoff, 4-3. “Going into the Final, I struggled through the first couple passes, dropping three. I knew I had my work cut out for me. From then on, I just figured out what I was doing and just kind of took it one target at a time. I think we were all fighting the heat a bit, and for me personally, I was fighting a headache too. In the end, I’m just glad it all worked out, USA took gold and silver and that’s all that matters!”
The duo entered the Final with the top two Qualification scores, with Rhode setting a Qualification World Record by hitting 122/125 targets and Connor just one target back at 121. Their strong shooting would continue to the end as the pair tied in the Final with 55/60 targets, forcing the gold/silver medal decision to a shootoff.
“We had a lot of delays, but it’s just something you have to look past - everyone’s in the same conditions. Just make the best of it. Fortunately for me, I’ve had a lot experience shooting a lot of Finals!” Rhode said. “I couldn’t have been happier to have that shootoff
