Team USA finishes day 1 of Rio Olympics with 5 medals

Thrasher had a cumulative score of 208.0 to beat Du Li of China by a point.

“As our attitude matures, and we know how to better appreciate competition, we will be able to openly applaud our rivals to reflect our great country’s confidence and tolerance”, said a Sunday post by state broadcaster CCTV, titled “When we are no longer obsessed with gold medals”.

The 19-year-old Springfield native is also now the proud owner of an Olympic gold medal, the surprising victor of the women’s 10-meter air rifle competition Saturday morning. She grew up fantasizing of making the Olympics, but not as a shooter.

“I’m so overwhelmed. It hasn’t even sunk in yet”, Thrasher said.

About halfway through the finals, Thrasher was certain that she “was in contention for a medal”, the Associated Press reported (via Business Insider). She came into the Olympic games ranked No. 23 in the world, and has written an underdog story for herself not soon forgotten.

Thrasher ended up on top of the podium and her whirlwind will wind down soon; a biomedical engineering major, she starts classes again at West Virginia on August 17. During the hunting trip with her grandfather, father and two brothers, the athlete aimed at a deer, pulled the trigger and eventually killed the animal with just one shot.

Thrasher, 19, could be seen beaming with pride for representing her country well winning the 10-meter air rifle shooting event.

“I just tried to focus on the competition”, said Thrasher, who will be back at West Virginia University next week, where she is starting her sophomore year majoring in biomedical engineering. “What’s important is taking the best shot you can and giving your all”. The 2012 Olympic champion, Yi Siling of China, claimed bronze. “The medal is just an outcome of what I’m doing”.

The American, a Springfield, Va., native, was one of eight competitors to emerge from the 50-woman qualification round.

Thrasher battled through a competitive final, which she began with a 10.5 that was matched by China’s Du Li, a two-time gold medalist.

A dozen gold medals were at stake on the first day of competition hours after Brazil’s high-energy opening party featured thumping funk, sultry samba and supermodel Gizele Bundchen shimmering to the tune of “The Girl from Ipanema”.

South Korea and Hungary are next up with two gold medals apiece, while 11 other countries, including Russian Federation and Great Britain, have claimed at least one gold.

“I’m actually looking forward to getting back to school again”, Thrasher said.