American Shooter Wins First Olympic Gold Of 2016 Games

posted on August 8, 2016

An American teenage air rifle shooter won the first gold medal awarded in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Saturday.

Virginia Thrasher, a 19-year-old sophomore at West Virginia University, won the 10-meter air rifle event, narrowly beating China’s Du Li, a former Olympic gold medalist, by just one point. "This is beyond my wildest dreams," Thrasher said. "I knew it was a realistic expectation for me to get into the finals and once you get into the finals, anything can happen. For me, this year has been incredible." 

Formerly a figure skater, Thrasher took up shooting just five years ago after going on a deer hunting trip with family members. “In the finals, about halfway through, it kind of became clear to me that I was in contention for a medal,” Thrasher said. “But I quickly pushed that thought away and focused on breathing, just taking one shot at a time.”

Latest

concealed-1.jpg
concealed-1.jpg

Does Concealed-Carry Reciprocity Have a Chance?

For millions of law-abiding gun owners across the United States, the right to self-defense should not stop at the state line.

250 Years Later: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

Today marks two and half centuries since the historic events at Lexington and Concord.

7 Things the Trump Administration Has Done for Our Second Amendment Freedom

In the first months of President Trump’s historic second term, he has wasted no time reaffirming his commitment to protecting and expanding Second Amendment rights across the country.

The Armed Citizen® April 11, 2025

True stories of the right to keep and bear arms

Yet Another Biden ATF Policy Falls

The revocation of this policy is another win for law-abiding gun owners.

The Extraordinary Berettas Of The NRA Museums

This set of five of the finest shotguns ever commissioned by the centuries-old firm has been exhibited in several locations, with a last stop at the NRA museum before returning to Italy.



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.