USA's Ginny Thrasher win gold medal in 10-meter air rifle in Rio

Photo courtesy of USA Shooting
Used with permission.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (August 6, 2016) Nineteen-year old Ginny Thrasher, a sophomore at West Virginia University, won the first gold medal awarded at the Games if the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Competing in the women’s 10-meter air rifle, Thrasher bested a competitive field with the score of 208.0.  Thrasher downed China’s two-time gold medalist Li Du by a single point. Du’s teammate, Siling Yu earned the bronze medal. Thrasher’s teammate, American Sarah Scherer finished in eighth position.

Thrasher, a native of Springfield, Virginia who attend West Springfield High School became the first freshman to win an NCAA title this past year. She began shooting five years ago. She will also compete in the 50-meter rifle, three position on Saturday, August 13, 2016.