Ginny Thrasher Named USA Shooting Athlete of the Year

by
posted on November 18, 2016
gt-1.jpg (1)

West Virginia University sophomore and Olympic Gold Medalist Ginny Thrasher has been named the 2016 USA Shooting Athlete of the Year.

Alongside Matt Emmons, Thrasher earned the top overall athlete honor.

“It is such a great honor to receive this award,” the Springfield, VA, native said. “I think this is the perfect way to end a wonderful year, and I look forward to the opportunities the future year holds.”

Thrasher became the first gold medalist of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games when she won the women’s 10m air rifle event. She was the third youngest U.S. women’s shooting medalist, and also the third U.S. shooter ever to win the women’s 10m air rifle event.

Thrasher followed her Olympic performance with a bronze-medal finish in the women’s 10m air rifle at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final for Rifle and Pistol in Italy this past October.

“This is a fantastic and well-deserved honor for Ginny,” Mountaineer rifle coach Jon Hammond said. “It has been an amazing year for her, and this is a great way to end it. Ginny has put in a lot of time and hard work, and she’s had many ups and downs along the way. I’m sure she has experienced more than most in one year.

“Through it all, Ginny has been a tremendous representative of West Virginia University and the WVU rifle team. We are incredibly proud of her and everything she has achieved.”

Thrasher opened her collegiate career with a sweep of the individual titles at the 2016 NCAA National Championships, becoming the first freshman shooter to win the air rifle and smallbore titles at the same event. She helped the Mountaineers claim their fourth straight and 18th overall NCAA title.

The 2016 Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Rookie of the Year, she earned three All-America honors and was named the NCAA Championships Top Performer Honoree.

Article courtesy of WVU Athletics.

Latest

CMP Advanced Class 1
CMP Advanced Class 1

CMP Class Teaches Advanced M1 Garand Rifle Maintenance

Civilian Marksmanship Program releases dates for 2025 Advanced Maintenance classes to be held in Anniston, Ala.

Classic SSUSA: The Inaugural NRA World Shooting Championship

Begin with 159 world champions, run them through 11 shooting stages, all with standard guns provided by the match sponsors, and you end up with a new trophy and $50,000 awarded to the inaugural NRA World Shooting Champion.

Legends: Sue Ann Sandusky 1952-2024

The shooting sports community mourns the loss of Sue Ann Sandusky, a three-time NRA All-American, Army veteran and Distinguished service rifle shooter, who sadly passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

Gunwerks Spike Feet Set Designed To Improve Grip And Add Stability In Uneven Terrain

This new set of spike feet for the Gunwerks Elevate 2.0 bipod promises to maintain a solid grip in tough terrain.

XS Sights Expands DXT2 Pro Series, R3D 2.0 Lineup For SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory And FN Pistols

XS Sights adds models to the DXT2 Pro Series and R3D 2.0 lineups that will fit SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory and FN pistols.

Modern Technology Implemented To Surmount Logistical Hurdles: 1958 National Matches

The more than 4,000 shooters at the 1958 NRA National Matches were greeted by advanced technology used to speed up administrative tasks during the most populous period in National Match history.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.