American Thrasher wins first gold

American teenager Virginia Thrasher won the first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympics when she claimed victory in the women's 10 metre air rifle.

Virginia Thrasher: First gold medallist of the Rio Olympics
Virginia Thrasher: First gold medallist of the Rio Olympics

The 19-year-old achieved an Olympic record score of 208.0 to edge China's Li Du into silver by a single point, with another Chinese, defending champion Siling Yi, taking bronze.

Thrasher, the world number 23, had ranked only sixth in qualifying, with Du dominating and going into Saturday's final as the heavy favourite for gold.