(ATR) Ginny Thrasher wins the women's 10m air rifle, giving the USA the first gold of the Games.
Competing in her first Olympics, the 19-year-old posted an Olympic finals record score of 208.0 to overtake China's Li Du at Rio's Olympic Shooting Centre.
Du ended with a score of 207.0 to claim the silver, with her countrywoman Siling Yi winning bronze.
"I’m so happy to start off Rio 2016 with a gold medal for my country," Thrasher told reporters.
"I think I knew it was realistic for me to make finals, but I was not focused on that. I was focusing on just shooting the best that I could, and that got me there."
The gold is the third by the U.S. in women's air rifle, the first since Nancy Napolski-Johnson won at the Sydney 2000 Games. The first was won by Pat Spurgin at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics where the event was introduced to the Olympic program.
Thrasher overcame competition from more experienced shooters to make her first Olympics with a stellar performance at the 2015 U.S. championships, where she won five medals.
Written by Mark Bissonin Rio de Janeiro
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