Kim Rhode and Matt Emmons are opposite sexes, grew up on opposite coasts and specialize in different shooting disciplines. Despite the obvious differences, the two have something very special in common: gold medals won in shooting at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Rhode, the 26- year-old winner in women's double trap, lives in El Monte, California. Her occupation, she says, is "Athlete," and she not only can wear 2004 Olympic gold to prove it, but she also owns a gold medal won at the 1996 games in Atlanta. In fact, in Atlanta she became not only the first person to attain a gold medal in the newly introduced event of women's double trap, but she also became the youngest person to ever win Olympic gold in shooting.

For her, shooting was just another tradition carried on from generation to generation. "Shooting was passed down to me by my father who had it passed down by his

parents," Kim said. "I've been hunting and fishing seemingly my whole life."

At first she shot at tin cans and paper plates. By age 10, Kim was shooting competitively. At 12 she was the youngest girl to break 100 straight targets in American skeet. At 13 she became the Ladies World Champion in American skeet.

Though competitive shooting at a worldclass level would seem like a full-time job, Kim fits a lot more into a very busy schedule. She does all of the things an "ordinary" 26-year-old girl does, she says. She loves to surf, restore old cars, go dancing with her friends and go out with her boyfriend. Kim is also about to earn a college degree in pre-veterinary medicine and art.

"I love art and I love to photograph, especially when I go on trips," she said.

One trip Kim made this summer was to the National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

There, she had a ball, Kim says. She worked at the shooting booth that the National Shooting Sports Foundation sponsored and operated, supported by a bevy of staff and certified volunteers.

"It was fun watching the kids trade patches and pins," Kim said. "It reminded me of the Olympic experience. And it reminded me of the Olympics in another way-watching kids meet other kids from all over and making friends with people with a common bond."

Kim signed autographs, talked to individual Scouts and even held a press conference. There, she gave advice on how Scouts might begin shooting.

"Look for a good program like the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Scholastic Shooting Programs to learn safety and sound fundamentals," she advised. "Try the different disciplines of shooting and focus on the one that is the most fun for you. Most importantly, remember to keep it fun."

In between all of his studies, he found time to win a gold medal in the 50-meter prone rifle event at the Athens games. The accomplishment crowned a competitive career that, like Kim's, began by coming from a family of hunters.

"That sparked my interest in shooting," Matt said. "The fact that my father was in charge of the shooting facilities at a military installation made access to the ranges pretty easy."

Like Kim, Matt earned his share of shooting titles growing up. One of the incentives was the hope of winning a scholarship from a university that fielded a shooting team. Through hard work, discipline and a lot of practice, he attained that scholarship- and eventually Olympic gold.

"Shooting makes me challenge myself," Matt said. "It allows me to see how good I can be, and I enjoy working toward a goal.

"I especially value the wonderful people I have met. I have friends around the country and around the world because of shooting.