Virginia Thrasher, 19 anni, from the United States won the women’s 10m air rifle with 208.0 points at the Rio Olympic Shooting Center Saturday, claiming the very 1st Gold Medal at the 2016 Olympics.
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On Saturday morning, the West Virginia student-athlete came-from-behind to capture the gold medal at the Rio Olympics. James Jett (1989-1992) earned Gold with the US men’s 4x100m relay team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games before returning to Morgantown for his senior season with the Mountaineers. Du said it was a “fair game” for all competitors, while Yi said, ‘Hearing the noise was very disturbing, but I had to control myself’.
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. They knew she had talent when she was able to make her first shot ever and Thrasher chose to try and hone in on her skills.
“I started shooting that August and I remember watching the Games and watching the men’s air rifle event”, Thrasher said. With her very first shot, she took down a 150lb whitetail deer.
When she took the lead in the finals, she realized it was a “possibility” that she might win.
Her coach, Jon Hammond, credits Thrasher not only with being a strong shooter but on her marked improvement over the past year.
Ranked 23rd in the world, she shocked the rather insular shooting world by winning the women’s 10-meter air rifle competition.
Venus is bounced • When Venus Williams pushed one last forehand long to lose in the first round for the first time in her record five Olympic singles tournaments, her opponent celebrated as if having claimed a gold medal.
“I’m so happy to start off Rio 2016 with a gold medal for my country”, Thrasher said.
In the eight-person final, Thrasher hit the 10-ring with 18 consecutive shots.
Du Li and Yi Siling, both from China, took home the silver and bronze medals respectively.
“So much pressure for me”, said Yi. Scherer has had problems with her back and will be retiring after her time in Rio.
This video includes images from Getty Images and clips from West Virginia University, NRA and Winchester Ammunition.
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Forget the fact that it’s the same butt plate she competed with in getting seventh at the London Games and the same butt plate that passed equipment check two days earlier. It must be a odd experience after preparing and training for four years, given that the early start meant that taking part in the opening ceremony was out of the question.
