RIO, Brazil — The West Virginia University Rifle team continues to shine in Rio. Former WVU shooter Nicco Campriani of Italy earned the gold medal in the men’s 10 meter Air Rifle competition. Campriani, a four time All-American, at WVU shot a final score of 206.1 to earn his second gold and third Olympic medal. A native of Florence, Italy he finished with the silver in air rifle at London in 2012.
“:Today’s my first Gold medal in this event since the rules have changed, basically since 2012. Quite a good timing to come back,” Campriani said to the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) following today’s match. “I have two more competitions in front of me here in Rio. I still need to concentrate, and it won’t be easy after today’s victory.”
With Campriani’s gold in air rifle, it completed a sweep of the event for the WVU Rifle Team. Rising sophomore shooter Ginny Thrasher scored gold in the event back on Saturday. It’s the first time in history two athletes with West Virginia University ties have earned a gold medal in the same Olympic games. Campriani becomes the first athlete with ties to WVU to hear two or more Olympic Gold medals. The all-time Olympic Gold metal count for WVU now stands at six.
WATCH: CAMPRIANI’S FINAL SHOT IN THE MEN’S 10 METER AIR RIFLE
Campriani finished ahead of Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish who took the silver with a score of 204.6 and Vladimir Maslennikov of Russia earned the bronze at 184.2. Campriani set an Olympic Record shooting a 630.2 in the air rifle qualification round.
Campriani will shoot for a second gold in men’s 50 meter rifle prone on Friday and will defend his 2012 Olympic Gold medal in the men’s 50 meter 3 position competition on Sunday. Thrasher will shoot for another gold medal Thursday in the women’s 3 position event.