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Ginny Thrasher shortens rifle learning curve on road to Rio

Related Topics: Rifle

Anyone who has met or spoken with Ginny Thrasher usually ends up with the same description of her personality: bubbly.

Not the stereotypical, air-heady kind. More engaging, friendly, opinionated. Vivacious.

When Thrasher raises her rifle toward the 10-ring target 50 meters downrange, the other side of her personality takes over. Determined, focused, confident.

That's the part that pushed the 19-year-old to become the first freshman rifle shooter to win both individual NCAA titles and earn a spot at the Rio Olympics in less than a month.

"When it comes to anything that's a challenge — a test, a competition, training — it's very easy for her to dial in that concentration," said Jon Hammond, Thrasher's rifle coach at West Virginia University.