We already have a gold medalist, and it’s a 19-year-old West Virginia University sophomore, Ginny Thrasher.
With two shots to go in the women’s air rifle event, Thrasher led by 0.7 points. She coolly squeezed off shots of 10.5 and 10.4 to take gold. Two Chinese shooters, Du Li and favored Yi Siling won silver and bronze. Another American, Sarah Scherer was eighth.
In the exciting format, each of the eight finalists took just eight shots before one was eliminated. Then another shooter went to the sidelines after every two shots.
Thrasher has only been shooting for five years, after she asked her father to take her deer hunting.