SHOOTING Rhode again wins gold in double trap

XATHENS, Greece -- American Kim Rhode won the gold medal in double trap shooting Wednesday, staking a unique claim as the first and last winner of the Olympic event.
Rhode won the 1996 gold when double trap was introduced at the Atlanta Olympics, and she now owns the 2004 medal in the event, which is being eliminated. She also won the bronze in 2000.
"It's an amazing feeling," said Rhode, of El Monte, Calif. "I don't think it's quite sunk in yet that I've won. It usually hits me when I get home."
In women's 25-meter pistol, Maria Grozdeva of Bulgaria won the gold medal, while Lenka Hykova of the Czech Republic won the silver and Irada Ashumova of Azerbaijan took the bronze.
Rhode and Lee Bo Na of South Korea were tied at 110 entering the 20-round final. Both hit their first four sets of targets, and soon distanced themselves from the rest of the pack. Rhode was the last shooter to miss in the final, failing to hit the second target in the 10th round.
Tied after 13 rounds, Lee missed the second target on her 14th turn, while Rhode hit both to take the lead. She would not trail again in the competition.
After hitting one of two targets on her final attempt, Rhode turned around and didn't not immediately celebrate.
"I didn't really know where I stood," she said. "I wasn't too sure when I walked off because nobody cheered right away. So when they started cheering, that's when I kind of knew."
Lee finished with a 145, one shot behind Rhode, to take the silver. Gao E of China defeated countrywoman Li Qingnian in a shoot-off to win the bronze.
In double trap, competitors shoot at a pair of four-inch clay targets that exit simultaneously from two of three underground bunkers. They are allowed only one shot per target.
Rhode will compete in skeet later in these Olympics, and for future games plans on shooting skeet and trap.
Associated Press