Olympic Gold Medalist Says Hunting Started it All

by
posted on September 25, 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. **
ginny_thrasher_f.jpg

Ginny Thrasher, a 19-year-old shooter from Springfield, Va., won the first gold medal of the 2016 Olympic Games for Team USA. Thrasher triumphed over silver medalist Du Li of China by a full point in the women’s 10-meter air rifle event, and she said it all began with a deer hunt.

“I got my first deer and I liked the adrenaline of pulling the trigger,” she said.

From those humble beginnings, which all hunters can relate to, Thrasher went on to shoot for her high-school air-rifle team, which ultimately landed her a spot on the West Virginia University rifle team. As if taking the NCAA championships in 2016 as a freshman wasn’t enough, Thrasher earned herself a spot on the 2016 Olympic team and claimed gold in Rio.

Latest

W H2026 08 F Cape Buffalo 9R0A7308
W H2026 08 F Cape Buffalo 9R0A7308

Hunting Cape Buffalo: Don’t Just Stand There—Keep Shooting

A 49-year veteran of hunting the Cape buffalo is here to say encounters with the great beast aren’t always as you imagine.

Reviewed: Plano GoNow Boxes

Need something waterproof to store your hunting or shooting gear on the way to camp or the range? Look no further. Plano’s GoNow boxes hit the mark!

Standout New Hunting Guns of 2026

This year’s standout hunting firearms reveal an industry focused on refining proven ideas. Manufacturers are increasingly embracing features once reserved for premium models and including extras that a few years ago were considered aftermarket additions. Whether you’re chasing game close to home or venturing deep into the backcountry, today’s new hunting guns arrive more capable than ever before.

Massive Expansion of Hunting and Fishing Opportunities

The Department of the Interior recently announced the largest expansion of hunting and sport fishing opportunities in the history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Service is also making more than 1,000 modifications to existing regulatory provisions, reducing complexity and making it easier for hunters and anglers to understand and comply with applicable rules. 

Behind the Bullet: The .25 WSSM

Quarterbores are back, so let's take a look at a fan favorite released just after the turn of the millennium: the .25 WSSM.

Henry Repeating Arms Introduces the Founding Fathers Collection

Henry Repeating Arms has introduced the Founding Fathers Collection, a series of seven Tribute Edition rifles honoring the men who shaped the American republic: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.