Virginia Thrasher wins first gold medal of Rio Olympics

[sarisataka]

Virginia Thrasher wins first gold medal of Rio Olympics for USA in 10m air rifle

The American teenager Virginia Thrasher won the first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, holding her nerve to clinch the women’s 10m air rifle event.

Thrasher edged out China’s Du Li with an Olympic-record score of 208. The result is quite a surprise. Thrasher is ranked 23 in the world and Du had been dominant in qualify.

Thrasher shot 10.5 on her first shot of the final elimination round and smiled after 10.4 on her second shot put her comfortably ahead of China’s Du. Thrasher had a cumulative score of 208.0 to beat Du, a two-time gold medallist, by a point. The bronze medal was claimed by the 2012 Olympic champion, Yi Siling of China.

Thrasher became the first freshman to win both individual NCAA rifle titles and helped West Virginia win the team title. She followed that by winning the US Olympic trials less than a month later, earning a trip to Rio.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/06/virginia-thrasher-first-gold-rio-2016-olympics-air-rifle

Congrats to the first medal winner.

[liberal N proud]

1. AmericanS should dominate in shooting games

[Brother Buzz]

9. They would if there was an assault weapon event

You know what I mean, Vern?

[liberal N proud]

13. I do!

[marybourg]

2. Oh. I thought this was going

to be a story about birds!

[Adrahil]

3. Good shooting! Well done Ms. Thrasher!!! NT

[Donald Ian Rankin]

4. That's an awfully big air rifle... N.T.

[ansible]

10. They're incredibly expensive, even moreso than real gunpowder rifles

Basic model is at least $2000

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Feinwerkbau_800_ALU_Air_Rifle_Black/3700

[underpants]

5. Pretty cool name

[dlwickham]

6. Lets Go Mountaineers!!

As a WVU grad, I couldn't be prouder!

[a la izquierda]

15. I'm a WVU Prof...

People are seriously stoked for Ginny Thrasher.

[dlwickham]

19. Fantastic

We cheer and support our own. We'll always remember her as well. Oncea Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer!

[Staph]

18. I'm tickled pink!

We West Virginians couldn't be prouder!

[Boxerfan]

7. I enjoy airguns-way harder than golf.

And I'm thrilled one of ours did so well. This is a very difficult sport.

I'm into hunter class Field target. Shooting siting down/standing or prone-in the field-at steel silhouette targets with various sized holes for the pellet to pass through & drop the target.

I have found the "pellet heads" to be much smarter than the average powder burner so less apt to be a r/w drooler.
I have done target shooting since I was 10 & I have a honest love for the sport. And pellet guns are easy to feed & I can shoot indoors safely.

So look kindly on a true sport that takes years of practice & dedication to even get in the top 10.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Oh, the irony.

But, well done.

[linuxman]

11. As a WVU alum, I couldn't be prouder.

Also something nice to stick in the craw of gun/West Virginia/Team USA haters.

[Eleanors38]

17. ^^^

[Laxman]

12. I Thought Ralphie Parker....

was the favorite to win the gold in this event!

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. Sadly, Ralphie was forced to withdraw from competition after shooting his eye out.

[awoke_in_2003]

23. Flick says

he saw some grizzly bears near Pulaski's candy store.

[ileus]

14. Go Mountaineers!

Awesome to see youth involved in the shooting sports.

[awoke_in_2003]

20. Mind if I cross post in the Appalachia group?

It could always use some good news.

[sarisataka]

21. Go right ahead

The region should be proud

[awoke_in_2003]

22. Thank you...

it doesn't get good new too often, unfortunately.