Speaking to NBC’s Dan Patrick, Thrasher said she was thrilled to get the USA delegation to Rio off on the right foot.
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DeAndre Jordan – The 28-year-old center from the Los Angeles Clippers was a bit of a surprise addition, but should bring solid rebounding and defensive abilities.
She collected as many as 10 ISSF World Cup medals and one silver at the 2014 World Championships, but failed to become the first shooter in the Olympic history to win multiple gold medals in women’s 10m air rifle. First came Chase Kalisz, the 22-year-old protégé of Michael Phelps, who swam his fastest time ever to win a silver medal in the men’s 400 individual medley.
Thrasher had a quick rise to the top. She swapped figure skating for shooting after a family hunting trip in which she killed a deer with her first shot.
Thrasher was not expected to be among the top five scorers – all that counts in NCAA competition – at shooting powerhouse West Virginia, yet got better as the season progressed. Thrasher’s teammate, six-time Olympian Kim Rhode, spoke earlier this week about how new gun measures in her state of California had affected her training because she must complete extensive background checks to buy ammunition for practice.
She didn’t flinch at the sport’s brightest spotlight – or an air horn.
“This is beyond my wildest dreams”, said Thrasher, who’s just a couple of months removed from her freshman year at West Virginia. Australia’s team features 203 cm (6 foot 8 inch) center Liz Cambage, a 24-year-old who in her 2012 Olympic debut became the first woman to perform a one-handed slam dunk, in a preliminary game against Russian Federation.
In the final, each athlete had three shots in each of the first two rounds, and then two per round in a format where the last-placed athlete was eliminated in each round until Thrasher and Du were left in the ninth and final round.
She took her final shot before her rival and, with a score of 10.4 putting herself out of Du’s reach, allowed herself a sigh and a smile.
“It means an incredible amount to me to be able to represent the United States of America and do so positively”, said Thrasher. As for France, you know they want revenge against the USA for that embarrassing 36-pont loss in the 2012 finals.
The Americans’ journey to a probable gold begins Saturday against China, a team the usa drubbed by 49 and 50 points in two recent exhibitions. She also competed in the 2012 London Games and pulled off a clutch shot in the Rio final, hitting 10.9 to stay alive in the second round.
It has become an Olympic tradition nearly as ritualistic as the torch entering the stadium: on the eve of the games, the U.S. men’s basketball team takes a bow in the host city and its brightest and best look solemn and earnest as they acknowledge that the only way they can truly stun the public at these games is by not taking gold.
Thrasher, 19, set an Olympic record of 208.0 in the 10-meter air rifle event, clinching victory in a significant upset.
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At 30, Natasha Hastings is making her second Olympic appearance and could factor into the 400-meter mix, as well as the relay team. “I’m just looking forward to that moment”. “I also looked up and saw that Virginia and Du Li were doing well themselves”. Thrasher is from Springfield, Virginia and is now a student at West Virginia University. Armed with unmatched offensive firepower, the Americans, seeking their third straight gold medal, are creating an identity with their backs to the basket.
