Acapulco (Mexico): Unbelievable. There’s no other words that can properly describe the moment that United States’ Skeet shooter Kimberly Rhode is going through right now. The legendary United States’ shooter keeps dominating the women’s Skeet event, as she secured her third consecutive Gold medal after the ones she won at the 2016 ISSF World Cup Final in Rome (ITA) and at the first World Cup stage of the season in New Delhi (IND).
At Acapulco, the 37-year-old six-time Olympic medalist won another World Cup Gold medal: the 10th of her amazing career in this event, and the third at the Club de Caza, Tiro y Pesca de Acapulco.
“Despite that, I still get the thrill of the victory when it happens,” Kimberly Rhode confessed after the medal ceremony. “This place especially, it just feels like home. The weather, the hot temperature and California being just one hour away. It’s always great to win here in Acapulco.”
Rhode, who qualified for the final match with the 4th best score of 70 target hits out 75, claimed the lead of the final midway through it, as her teammate and then Silver medal winner Caitlin Connor missed X clays in the central section of the match.
“Our team is surely among the top teams in the world, and what I think it makes it unique is the deepness. With Caitlin, Katie and Morgan we always have each other’s back, and we’re always pushing each other to get better everyday.” She added.
Kimberly Rhode finished with 54 target hits, while 26-year-old Connor claimed the Silver medal with 53, the 4th ISSF World Cup medal of her young career.
On the third step of the podium, clinching her first career World Cup medal in her second overall participation, Cao Yi (23) of the People’s Republic of China hit 41 targets and pulverized the 16th place she claimed in New Delhi (IND) in the first stage of the 2017 ISSF World Cup Series. Cao’s Bronze is the first medal pocketed by China in Acapulco.
The third United States’ final participant, Katharina Monika Jacob placed just outside of the medal positions, closing the match in 4th place with 30 target hits and setting a new Junior World Record. Jacob was followed by Italy’s 41-year-old Chiara Costa, participating in her second career World Cup stage, who landed in 5th place with 22 hits.
The first shooter to be eliminated after the opening 20 targets was Germany’s 21-year-old Katrin Wieslhuber, European Championship Silver medalist in Maribor (SLO) in 2015, who placed in 6th position with 14 target hits.
The ISSF World Cup Stage 2 in Acapulco will conclude tomorrow with the Skeet Men final, scheduled at 2:00 pm (UTC+6:00).