The first gold medalist at the Rio Olympics is an American

The first winner.
The first winner.
Image: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar
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The Rio Olympics have just started, but medals are already being awarded. The first goes to a 19-year-old American, Ginny Thrasher from Springfield, Virginia, who took home the gold in 10-meter air rifle.

Virginia Thrasher, left, of the United States waves after she won the gold medal for the Women's 10m Air Rifle competition ash runner up Du li, right, of China walks way from the shooting position at Olympic Shooting Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.
Thrasher waves after her victory
Image: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

In the process, she set an Olympic record of 208 points.

Virginia Thrasher of the United States smiles winning a shootout to secure the gold medal in the Women's 10m Air Rifle event at Olympic Shooting Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.
Thrasher smiles while securing the US’s first gold
Image: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

Two members of the Chinese team took home the silver and bronze: Du Li, one point shy of Thrasher, won the silver; and Yi Siling was awarded the bronze with 185.4 points. Both were prior Olympic champions. Du won the gold in 2004 at the Athens Olympics, and Yi won gold in the 2012 games in London.

Thrasher is a sophomore at the West Virginia University, where she was the first freshman to win both NCAA rifle titles, according to the Guardian. According to the NBC broadcast, Thrasher began shooting just five years ago.

Virginia Thrasher, center, of the United States holds her gold medal for the Women's 10m Air Rifle competition during the award ceremony with the runner-up Du li, left, of China and third place Yi Siling, right, of China at Olympic Shooting Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. ()
Thrasher bested Du Li and Yi Siling of China.
Image: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

Her next event is the “50m rifle 3 positions” on Aug. 11.

Correction (Aug 6): A previous version of this item referred to Thrasher’s alma mater as the University of West Virginia.