LONDON -- Step aside, Carl Lewis.

You, too, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Al Oerter.

Meet Kimberly Rhode, the first American with individual medals in five straight Olympics, after a golden, record-setting, nearly perfect performance.

Rhode won the women's skeet shooting Sunday, tying a world record and setting the Olympic mark with 99 points – meaning she missed once in 100 shots. She was eight targets better than silver medalist Wei Ning of China and nine better than Slovakia's Danka Bartekova, who topped Russia's Marina Belikova in a shootout for the bronze.

Rhode won in double trap at Atlanta as a teenager in 1996, took bronze in that event four years later at Sydney, re-claimed the gold at Athens in 2004 and won the silver in skeet at Beijing in 2008.

Now, golden again.

"It's just been an incredible journey," said Rhode, strands of glitter intertwined with her blonde hair. "And ultimately, I couldn't be happier for bringing home the gold for the United States."

Lewis, Oerter, Joyner-Kersee and Bruce Baumgartner are the other Americans recognized as individual medal-winners in four straight Summer Olympics. Rhode's at five now, and at 33 years old, she's not planning to stop anytime soon.

"I would like to learn from her," said Wei, the silver medalist, looking at Rhode and smiling.

Rhode becomes the eighth U.S. woman with at least five individual Olympic medals – speedskater Bonnie Blair and Joyner-Kersee each have six, while Shirley Babashoff, Janet Evans, Shannon Miller, Amanda Beard and Natalie Coughlin also have five.

Pretty good company, by any measure.

"No one has ever shot 100 in this style of shooting," said Bartekova, who has a 99 in competition. "With Kim shooting like this, it's not going to take a long time."

Rhode was a perfect 25-for-25 in each of the first two qualifying sessions, then ran her streak to 65 straight hits before her lone misfire. Several people who braved a chilly rain day at the Royal Artillery Barracks sighed in disbelief at the miss, which Rhode shrugged off with ease.

"I just missed," she said.

She didn't miss again. The sun came out for the final round, which she entered with a four-target lead – that's a lot – and by the midway point of the medal competition everyone knew it was over. All that was left to decide was whether she would tie the world mark of 99, and if she would hold back tears long enough to see the final few orange 4-inch clay targets whizzing about at 60 mph.

"It's been an overwhelming experience," Rhode said. "Every emotion hits you at once."

So did a slew of memories – some good, some not.

Rhode has dealt with her share of issues, like her gun being stolen after the Beijing Games (an anonymous donor provided a new one worth about $20,000, and police eventually recovered the now-retired first one) and a cancer scare. Others weren't so daunting, like having her poodle eating her air ticket to London – "the dog likes paper," said Sharon Rhode, the shooter's mother – and having to scurry to replace her husband's lost passport.

Everything worked out. And on Sunday, things couldn't have worked out any better.

"Unbelievable, isn't it," said her father and coach, Richard Rhode.

Kim Rhode was 10 when she starting shooting competitively, and the sport is simply not cheap. Her parents – both shooters – supported the plan even if it meant major financial sacrifice along the way.

"We still owe on our house," Richard Rhode said.

"We've refinanced it so many times," chimed in Sharon Rhode.

"But what do you do when your child has a dream?" Richard Rhode continued. "I think people do that. They sacrifice for their kids. And we wouldn't change a minute of it. All we can do, pardon the pun here, is bite the bullet."

Shooting is essentially her full-time job. She's trained seven days a week since January – even on the day she flew to the London Games – and plans to be back on the range Monday. The bill for shells and targets can reach $700 a day, some of which is covered by sponsors, and she's still making enough cash to enjoy other things in life.

She's collected thousands of children's books, some rare first-editions. She's trained in gourmet cooking. She has 14 classic cars, most on racks in a warehouse at the back of her parents' property. She built a 1965 Shelby Cobra. A few days before the Olympics, she bought a 1928 Ford Model A four-seat convertible.

Is there anything she can't do?

"I can play guitar better than her," said Mike Harryman, Rhode's oft-humbled husband. "I have to say that because everything else, she does better. I bowled a 186 once. I thought that was the best score ever, and she scored a 215. She's even better at fishing."

It's almost like Rhode saw this coming.

As a kid, Rhode got invited to stay and work at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. And one day, athletes in residence were asked to write down everything they could not do.

Rhode didn't move.

"The coach says to her, 'Why aren't you writing?'" Richard Rhode said. "And she goes, 'Well, I don't think there's anything I can't do if I put my mind to it.' And he stopped everybody from writing and says 'That's what will make an Olympic champion.'"

He was right.

___

Also on HuffPost:

Loading Slideshow...

  • Tarlan Karimov & Musa Mogushkov

    Tarlan Karimov of Azerbaijan (in blue) competes against Musa Mogushkov of Russia during the men's -66kg judo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

  • Ashleigh Brennan

    Australian gymnast Ashleigh Brennan performs on the floor during the Artistic Gymnastic women's qualifications at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

  • Ronny Turiaf

    France's Ronny Turiaf goes up for a dunk during the first half of a preliminary men's basketball game against the USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Giulia Steingruber

    Swiss gymnast Giulia Steingruber performs on the balance beam during the Artistic Gymnastics women's qualification at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

  • Elsa Baquerizo

    Spain's Elsa Baquerizo, left, reacts with teammate Liliana Fernandez after they beat the Netherlands during a beach volleyball match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

  • David Florence

    David Florence of Britain competes in the heats of the C-1 men's canoe slalom at Lee Valley Whitewater Center, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Netherlands Field Hockey

    The Netherlands Field Hockey team congratulates each other shortly after defeating Belgium 3-0 in the women's hockey preliminary match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

  • A Mexico fan cheers prior to the men's group B soccer match between Mexico and Gabon at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, in Coventry, England, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

  • Liliana Fernandez

    Spain's Liliana Fernandez sets the ball during a beach volleyball match against the Netherlands at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

  • Georgia Bonora

    Australian gymnast Georgia Bonora performs on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's qualifications at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

  • Mary Jenkins

    Mary Jenkins of Strabane, Northern Ireland, waits out a rain delay at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon, in London, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

  • The peloton passes by The Mall near Buckingham Palace during the women's road cycling race at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, Pool)

  • Canada's women's rowing team

    Canada's, from left, Lesley Thompson-Willie, Andreanne Morin, Darcy Marquardt, Ashley Brzozowicz, Natalie Mastracci, Lauren Wilkinson, Krista Guloien, Rachelle Viinberg, and Janine Hanson stroke during a women's rowing eight heat in Eton Dorney, near Windsor, England, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012. Canada won the heat. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

  • Julia Goerges

    Julia Goerges of Germany reacts after winning the first set against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their match at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

  • Weili Yu

    Hong Kong's Weili Yu lifts during the women's 53-kg, group B, weightlifting competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London.(AP Photo/Mike Groll)

  • Great Britain's cycling team

    Great Britain's cycling team stand together before the start of the Women's Road Cycling race at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

  • Ravil Manafov of Kazakhstan, left, reaches for the ball as Guillermo Molina Rios of Spain defends during their mens Water Polo preliminary round match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

  • Rosalba Forciniti of Italy celebrates her win over Kyung-Ok Kim of South Korea during the women's -52kg judo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

  • United States' Missy Franklin starts in a women's 100-meter backstroke swimming heat at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Moldir Azimbay

    Gymnast Moldir Azimbay from Kazakhstan performs on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's qualifications at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

  • Olena Kostevych

    Ukraine's Olena Kostevych shoots during the women's 10-meter air pistol final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. Kostevych finished third to win bronze in the event.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

  • The pack of cyclists ride past Buckingham Palace in the rain during the Women's Road Cycling race at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

  • Visitors by their tickets for the Olympic Park at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

  • Raul Neto

    Australia's Patrick Mills celebrates after hitting a 3-point shot and being fouled by Brazil during a men's basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Swimmers start their heat in the men's 100-meter backstroke at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)

  • Kristyna Palesova

    Czech gymnast Kristyna Palesova performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's qualifications at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

  • Annika Urvikko

    Gymnast Annika Urvikko from Finland performs on the uneven bars at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

  • Jennie Johansson

    Sweden's Jennie Johansson competes in the women's 100-meter breaststroke swimming heat at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

  • Yun Choi Om

    North Korea's Yun Choi Om lifts during the men's 56-kg, group B, weightlifting competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Bombayla Devi Laishram

    India's Bombayla Devi Laishram shoots during the women's archery team competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

  • United States' Ricky Berens, top, United States' Ryan Lochte, center, and China's Sun Yang men's 200-meter freestyle swimming heat at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Clemens Doppler

    Austria's Clemens Doppler dives for the ball during a beach volleyball match against Brazil at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

  • Muller Dinda & Oribe Peralta

    Gabon's Muller Dinda (2) jumps for the ball against Mexico's Oribe Peralta, bottom, during the group B men's soccer match at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, in Coventry, England, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

  • Tony Parker

    France's Tony Parker argues a call with an official during the first half of a preliminary men's basketball game against the USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Tang Peng

    Tang Peng of Hong Kong competes against Noshad Alamiyan of Iran during the men's singles table tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

  • Kobe Bryant

    USA's Kobe Bryant bites his jersey during the first half of a preliminary men's basketball game against France at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Thomas Edgar, Rodrigo Quiroga

    Australia's Thomas Edgar (19) spikes the ball past Argentina's Rodrigo Quiroga (9) during a men's volleyball preliminary match at the 2012 Summer Olympics Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

  • Gabrielle Douglas

  • Abigail Johnston and Kelci Bryant

    US Silver medalists Abigail Johnston, front, and Kelci Bryant, rear, compete during the 3 Meter Synchronized Springboard final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

  • Abigail Johnston and Kelci Bryant

    US Silver medalists Abigail Johnston, front, and Kelci Bryant, rear, compete during the 3 Meter Synchronized Springboard final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

  • Marianne Vos

    Marianne Vos, left, of The Netherlands, celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the Women's Road Cycling race at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

  • Huang Cunguang

    China's Huang Cunguang competes in the men's K-1 kayak slalom heats at the Lee Valley White Water Center at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

  • Dalibor Doder

    Sweden's Dalibor Doder, left, is tackled by Tunisia's Wissem Hmam, right, during their men's handball preliminary match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

  • Liu Qiang and Luke Jackson

    China's Liu Qiang, and Australia's Luke Jackson react after Liu won their men's light 60-kg boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

  • Lebron James

    USA's Lebron James (6) grabs a rebound during the first half of a preliminary men's basketball game against France at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, pool)

  • Abigail Johnston, Kelci Bryant

    Abigail Johnston and Kelci Bryant of the USA compete during the 3 Meter Synchronized Springboard final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012. USA won the silver medal in the event. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Wu Minxia

    Wu Minxia of China, left, and He Zi compete during the 3 Meter Synchronized Springboard final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012. China won the gold medal in the event. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Jennifer Pinches

    Gymnast Jennifer Pinches from Great Britain performs on the floor during the Artistic Gymnastic women's qualifications at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

  • Tony Parker

    France's Tony Parker is stripped of the basketball by USA's James Harden, right, during the first half of a preliminary men's basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Abigail Johnston and Kelci Bryant

    US Silver medalists Abigail Johnston, left, and Kelci Bryant, right, pose during the medal ceremony for the 3 Meter Synchronized Springboard final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

  • Yoshiaki Oiwa

    Yoshiaki Oiwa, of Japan, right, is congratulated by Ruy Fonseca, of Brazil, as they pass each other at the exit of the ring after Oiwa took the lead in the equestrian individual eventing dressage phase at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/David Goldman)