OLYMPIC CHAMP KIM RHODE (USA) POCKETED SKEET WOMEN'S WORLD CUP GOLD IN ALMATY

2012 Olympic Gold Rhode beat the 2008 Olympic Champ Chiara Cainero of Italy to win her first World Cup Gold medal of the season. Rhode had closed the first world cup stage of the season (Tucson, Arizona) in third place, one month ago.

USA's three-time Olympic Champion Kimberly Rhode won the Skeet Women final at the 2014 ISSF World Cup in Shotgun events in Almaty, Kazakhstan, today.

The 34-year old shooter outdid the 2008 Olympic Champion Chiara Cainero (Italy, 36) in the Gold medal match, with a perfect score of 16 hits to Cainero's 14.

Germany's 32-year old reigning World Champion Christine Wenzel secured Bronze, beating the second Italian finalist Katiuscia Spada 16 to 13 hits in the Bronze medal match.

Thailand's Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit ended up in fifth place with 13 hits in the semi-final, after setting a new Asian Record of 73 hits at the qualifications, while Ukraine's Iryna Malovichko closed the competition in sixth with 12 hits in the semi-final.

Gold medallist Rhode passed through the qualifications with 22, 25, 24 hits, and then led the semi-final round with 16 hits, on her way to the highest step of today's podium.

“It has been a great match. I am really happy with the outcome. I had a rough start and I had to work hard in the last two qualification rounds and then into the final. The girls shot fantastic: it's going to be a tough road to the next Olympics.” Rhode said.

“The Gold medal match has been fantastic. I really worked hard after the last World Cup in Tucson, Arizona. I worked on my doubles, and I think it really showed here in the final round.”

The three medal winners, representing three different countries, fought right to the end to secure the brightest medal, but they had something in common, Rhode said.

“We're the newest mums on the line! My son is 1-year old, Chiara Cainero just had a baby, and Christine Wenzel has a 3-year old son. So, being a mum and being a professional shooter at the same time is definitely possible!”

“Now, I am going home and I will try to regroup before the next World Cup stage in Munich.”

“The World Cups are definitely my measure as I lead up to the next Olympic Games.” Rhode concluded.