Ginny Thrasher Wins First Gold Medal in Rio

by
posted on August 6, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gt1.jpg
Ginny Thrasher, 19, of Springfield, VA, won the first gold medal of the Olympics this year in Rio. Thrasher triumphed over silver medalist Du Li of China in the finals by a full point in the women's 10 meter air rifle event. 

A member of this year's NCAA champion West Virginia University rifle team, Thrasher faced a challenging Olympic field at the Olympic Shooting Center—especially the veteran competitive shooter Du, who was a gold medal winner at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. 

Ginny Thrasher is now the third U.S. shooter to win the women's 10 meter air rifle event at the Olympics, and the first since Nancy Napolski-Johnson won the gold in 2000.

The event was streamed live on the NBC Olympics website. 

Thrasher's USA Shooting teammate Sarah Scherer finished in eighth place.

Watch Ginny Thrasher on the Olympic range again this Thursday, August 11, for the women’s 50 meter rifle 3-P event.

Need help finding your favorite competitive shooters on TV and online this year at the Olympics? Our friends at NRA Family have an article that will help.

Photo credit to WVU Athletics.

Latest

1 Lede Bestofdecade
1 Lede Bestofdecade

The Last 10 Years of Shooting Sports USA

Standout covers and milestones from the past decade celebrating Shooting Sports USA’s history, evolution and mission.

Legends: Philip Schreier 1962–2025

Philip Schreier, NRA Museums Director and firearms historian, passes away at 63, leaving a lasting legacy through his dedication to preserving American firearms history.

Review: Tikka T3x Ace Target Rifle

Hands-on review of Tikka’s T3x Ace Target shows solid accuracy and real-world PRS readiness straight from the box.

Year In Review: 10 Of Our Best Articles From 2025

A year-end look at SSUSA’s most-read 2025 stories covering competition results, match-ready firearms, SHOT Show highlights and expert shooting guidance.

Review: Fabarm Infinite RS Sporting

A radically modern double gun built to challenge over-under dominance on the sporting-clays course.

New: Federal 6 mm ARC Gold Medal Berger Target Load

Federal ships a new 6 mm ARC Gold Medal match load, blending Berger bullets with factory consistency for long-range precision.

Interests



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