Ginny Thrasher wins 1st gold in Rio Olympic

America’s Ginny Thrasher won the first gold medal of the Rio Olympic Games with a surprise victory in the women’s 10m air rifle.

The 19-year-old secured her first major international victory, scoring 208.0 to leave China’s 2006 world champion Du Li with silver.

China’s defending champion Yi Siling could only finish with bronze, reports BBC.

Jen McIntosh secured a best-ever finish for a British woman, finishing 15th out of 51 in the qualification round.

The five-time Commonwealth medallist overcame a rifle malfunction to produce a strong finish and was just 1.2 points from securing a place in the final.

She will return to compete in her favoured 50m rifle three positions event on Thursday.