Kimberly Rhode (first from the left)  wins silver in the  women's skeet event of the Beijing Olympic Games on August 14,2008.

Applauses should also be given to American Kimberly Rhode, although the 29-year-old just won a silver in the women's skeet event.

Previously a shooter in double trap, she won two gold medals in the event at the Athens and Atlanta Olympics as well as a bronze in Sydney.

However, as the discipline was concelled in the Beijing Olympics, she converted to skeet in 2006.

"It was challenging, both physically and mentally," admitted Rhode.

With 70 hits from the qualification round, she was tied third with German Christine Brinker and Chinese Wei Ning.

But the baby-faced blonde managed to catch up and end with Italian markswoman Chiara Cainero, who led the qualification with two more points, and Brinker in a draw.

During the shoot-off in heavy rain, she managed to knock down the first plate but let go of the second. The lapse sent Cainero to the gold podium.

In the following stage of the prolonged shoot-off, Rhode rallied to down both targets while Brinker lapsed again, surrendering the silver to the smiling blonde.

Although she didn't win the gold, Rhode appeared optimistic.

"I have a collection now. I have a gold, a silver and a bronze," she smiled.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)