Mira Nair, Outreach Intern

On Sunday, Kimberly Rhode not only made a record-setting step for Olympics shooters, but a giant leap for the U.S. and womankind. Rhode took the gold medal in women’s skeet shooting and notched a near-perfect performance, hitting 99 out of 100 possible targets.

Rhode is now the first American with individual medals in five straight Olympics games. She surpassed three other U.S. athletes who have been individual medal-winners in four straight Summer Olympics. Rhode demonstrates to us once again that female athletes, given the opportunities they need to succeed, can own the competition and bring home the gold.