(Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)
Over the weekend, American shooter Ginny Thrasher won the first Gold medal for the USA at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In the final round of the 10-meter air rifle, Thrasher found herself going toe-to-toe with former Olympic champion Du Li of China, who won gold at the 2004 games in Athens.
The 19-year-old Thrasher didn’t cave to the pressure. In fact, she excelled under it, setting an Olympic record with a score of 208.0, and edging out Du who finished second with 207.0
Yi Siling of China finished third, taking the bronze.
Heading into the Olympics, the NCAA champion at West Virginia was considered an underdog for a gold medal.
“I think I knew it was realistic for me to make finals, but I was not focused on that,” said Thrasher. “I was focusing on just shooting the best that I could, and that got me there.”
Another American shooter, Sarah Scherer finished eighth.
Congratulations girl ! You are standing for women everywhere..
AND – she was utterly charming in her interviews, shattering the bigoted picture of American gun owners as pot-bellied knuckle-draggers.
Great job Ginny! The shooting sports is the only event that has held my interest and you didn’t disappoint!
Great job! I hope she is proud of her achievement and all of America should be proud as well. Keep up the great work and good luck to all our Olympians.
To the libtards that will find fault with supporting \”violence\” I say to you- LEAVE OUR RIGHTS ALONE!!!!!!
This is Awesome! Way to go, Young Lady!! Be proud! Ignore the internet haters. They are a bunch of ungrateful hypocrites…..and likely dumbocrats. We are Proud of you!