Virginia Thrasher of the United States goes in the books as the first gold medal victor in Rio.
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Competing in her first Olympics, Thrasher, as the first champion of the 2016 Games, was awarded her medal by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach and said the achievement was beyond her wildest dreams. She followed that by winning the U.S. Olympic Trials less than a month later, earning a trip to Rio.
The United States claimed the first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympics on Saturday after Virginia Thrasher triumphed in the final of the women’s 10-metre air rifle. The Chinese were up against each other as the final round proceeded to the 18th shot and it was Du Li who came out on top by shooting a staggering 10.8 points, leaving her compatriot with a bronze medal.
Thrasher stayed in the top spot as her competitors fell off, consistently hitting 10s despite a fan blowing an air horn at random times.
The 19-year-old won the women’s 10m air rifle title at the Deodoro shooting venue, holding her nerve to see off China’s Du Li on the final shot. Du’s teammate, Yi Siling, took home the bronze. Thrasher is ranked 23 in the world and Du had been dominant in qualifying.
The first day of the Olympic Games got off to a good start for Team USA with a WVU sophomore clutching the first gold medal.
She will have a new title when she returns: Olympic champion.
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“This is very special for me”, Thrasher added.
