I first met Kim Rhode in 2005, when she had proudly won three Olympic medals, her first one at just 17 years of age. 1996 Atlanta—Gold in Double Trap; 2000 Sydney— Bronze in Double Trap; and 2004 Athens—Gold in Double Trap. Kim was a featured celebrity at the annual Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo (1992-2008). At that time, I was the Hunter Education Specialist and Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Coordinator for Texas (1998-2025). In the early 2000s, there were not many young women who participated in hunting and shooting sports, and I was happy to meet such an influential young role model. In her early 20s, I was immediately inspired by her discipline, upbeat attitude and passion to share her love of shooting with everyone she met.
Left, the author met USA Olympic champion Kim Rhode in 2005 when her medal count was up to three. Twenty years later in 2025 (right), the two crossed paths during The Beretta Shotgun Experience at the Mayville (Wisconsin) Gun Club—with Rhode showing off a few more medals.
Lasting First Impressions
Two memories stand out from our initial meeting. First, as thousands of spectators eagerly awaited her shotgun shooting demo to begin, she drew their attention front and center as she and her father Richard, her mentor and coach, confidently walked to the center of the shooting area. Kim placed her shotgun in the gun rack, turned and faced her dad, then bent over headfirst into a handstand. She continued her forward momentum as her father caught her flip. He grabbed her legs as she rested upside-down and hung by her knees from his shoulders. He handed her the unloaded over-and-under shotgun and gave her two shells to load. He held her legs in place as she called “pull,” which launched a double: two clay birds thrown simultaneously from two throwers. Kim mounted her shotgun, still hanging upside-down, tracked the birds and took two perfect shots, breaking each clay bird! She repeatedly and consistently shot doubles, disintegrating every clay with every “pull!” and making it look so easy.
The other memory I have of Kim goes beyond her impressive collection of titles and trophies. It was her humility and approachability. She had a genuine desire to connect with new shooters, especially youth and women, and shared her passion and commitment to involve them so there will be a future in these shooting sports. In an industry long dominated by men, Kim showed young women and aspiring athletes there is a place for them on the range, in the hunting blind, and at the highest levels of competition.
Continuing the Conversation
Fast forward to September 2025, I had the honor of crossing paths with Kim once again at the Beretta Shotgun Experience in Mayville, Wisconsin. To add to her growing list of remarkable accomplishments, she is a six-time Olympic medalist, and the only American athlete to medal in six consecutive Olympics. She was the first Olympic shooter to compete in all three shotgun events: trap, double trap and skeet. She is the only athlete to win both the first and last Olympic gold medals (Double Trap introduced in Atlanta in 1996; Double Trap retired in Athens in 2004). In 2016 she became the first American athlete to qualify for the Olympics in five different continents. She has more than 30 international medals, five world championship medals, and is a four-time Pan American Games Champion. Since our last meeting, she’s won these additional Olympic medals: 2008 Beijing—Silver in Skeet; 2012 London—Gold in Skeet; and 2016 Rio—Bronze in Skeet. She is currently training with the goal of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with hopes of bringing home another medal in her home state.
Nothing about her spirit had changed from the first time I met her several years prior. If anything, her passion for empowering others had only grown stronger. Over the three days together, we had a lot of time to catch up and share our experiences in outdoor activities, connections and adventures. Kim is not just an elite shooter; she is also a role model in her community and among inspiring athletes. She is a wife, mother, mentor and an unwavering voice for women who want to find their place in the outdoors, especially in the shooting sports.
Her upbringing helped shape the woman she is today. She is from the Los Angeles area and grew up hunting and fishing because “it was just a way of life.” Her parents taught her how to shoot from a young age, and as a family, they had the opportunity to go dove hunting together. Kim spent a lot of time practicing her shotgunning skills on the range and someone noticed how well she was shooting, commenting to her, “You’re pretty good.” After that encouragement, Kim became more disciplined and shot at the club level, then progressed to state, then ultimately the World Shoot, which landed her at her first Olympic Games at the age of 16 in Atlanta. The rest is history.
It didn’t take long for industry giants to take notice. Kim is proudly sponsored by Beretta, one of the world’s most prestigious and historic firearms manufacturers. Now in its 15th generation, Beretta will celebrate its 500th birthday in 2026. Beretta began sponsoring Kim early in her professional career, recognizing her exceptional talent and skills, as well as her tremendous knowledge of firearms and their history. She has also been an incredible ambassador for the Second Amendment, and has served on the NRA’s Board of Directors.
Understanding the Past to Defend the Present
Kim and I discussed the importance of continued education to promote firearm safety and what it looks like to be a responsible and confident supporter of the Second Amendment. It’s more than just enjoying a day on the range. You must understand the legacy of firearms in American culture. Knowing the history of firearms not only makes you a more educated gun owner but also a more informed advocate.
The shooting world has changed for women in recent history, and more women are stepping into leadership roles in clubs, leagues and across the shooting sports. To defend our Second Amendment rights and protect our hunting and shooting heritage, it’s crucial to learn and understand our history of firearms and how they continue to play a crucial part in our progress. The message for women is a powerful one: Learn to shoot; know your history; understand where your rights come from, and do not be afraid to stand up for them.
Even with decades of shotgunning experience of her own, the author could not say no to some pro tips offered by Olympic champion Kim Rhode at The Beretta Shotgun Experience.
Kim is vocal about her support for the Second Amendment, preserving constitutional freedoms and ensuring the future of the shooting sports remains strong. She remains current with gun laws and proposals and is a staunch advocate for protecting our rights, encouraging all gun owners to be more vocal and to educate others about our heritage. Kim has worked with several youth organizations and sees the importance of reaching our next generation. In addition to the NRA, Kim has served on the Board of Directors with some national and influential organizations, including the International Shooting Sports Federation’s (ISSF) Athletes Committee, which represents and sets the standards for competitive shooters around the world.
Kim also stresses the importance of education, acknowledging that many people do not realize how laws affect competitive shooters in so many ways on a daily basis. The impact can be felt through ammunition and gun purchases and transporting firearms and equipment. Being an informed shooter and responsible gun owner is essential to being an effective advocate for our sport. This is why it is so important to mentor young shooters and support youth organizations, so education and knowledge can be passed down to them.
Today Kim continues to change the face of the shooting sports, one young athlete, one woman, one outdoor event, and one powerful and empowering message at a time. Her message is clear: Get involved in your community, have the courage to stand up and protect our Second Amendment, learn your firearm history, and recruit more youth and women into the shooting world because they are not just participating, they are preserving our traditions.
