Ginny Thrasher

PortraitSports
Written By Justin Merriman

Morgantown, W.Va., August 17, 2016: Olympic gold medalist Ginny Thrasher, 19, a sophomore at West Virginia University, poses as she gets photographed by the university photographer during a photo shoot on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. Thrasher won the United State's first gold medal of the Rio Olympics, competing in the women's 10-meter air rifle event. 

Ginny Thrasher, 19, a sophomore at West Virginia University, stands outside of her apartment as she is filmed by the university on her first day of classes on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. Thrasher won the United State's first gold medal of the Rio Olympics, competing in the women's 10-meter air rifle event.

Ginny rides on a bus as she goes to classes on her first day of instruction for the fall semester at WVU on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016.

Ginny listens to her calculus professor, Dr. Galyna Voitiuk, on her first day of instruction for the fall semester at WVU on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016.

Ginny receives a round of applause from classmates in her General Physics class on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

Ginny meets with her academic advisor, Toni Key Oliverio, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. They decorated her box with messages of congratulations.

A page from 2015-2016 WVU Rifle Media Guide features a page with now, Olympic gold medalist, Ginny Thrasher at West Virginia University. 

Ginny listens to her physics professor speak on her first day of classes in the fall semester on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

Ginny walks with Maddy Gardner, 20, a junior, left, on her first day of instruction for the fall semester at WVU on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

Ginny sits in an Intro to Electrical Engineering class on her first day of instruction for the fall semester at WVU on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016.

Ginny at West Virginia University, picks up her books from Sandy Cole-DeMent on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016.

Ginny talks to Aishwarya Vijay, 18, left, and Skyler Roth, 19, right, in an Intro to Electrical Engineering class on her first day of instruction for the fall semester at WVU on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

Ginny Thrasher's gold medal sits on an U.S. flag during a photoshoot on the campus on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

Ginny poses as she gets photographed by the university photographer during a photoshoot on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

Range records hang inside of the rifle range at West Virginia University on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

Ginny gets photographed by the media during a press conference at the campus on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

Ginny talks on her phone for a radio interview on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

Ginny gets interviewed by MetroNews Radio Network's Tony Caridi, left, and Greg Hunter, right, in Morgantown on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

A sign congratulating West Virginia University sophomore Ginny Thrasher, 19, who won the United State's first gold medal of the Rio Olympics, competing in the women's 10-meter air rifle event. Thrasher is the first female from the university to win a gold medal in the Olympics. 

Ginny poses for photographs with the university's photographer on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. 

I followed Olympic gold medalist Ginny Thrasher, 19, a sophomore at West Virginia University, for ESPN on her first day back to school after winning the United State's first gold medal of the Rio Olympics, competing in the women's 10-meter air rifle event. You can read about her day at ESPN.com.

Justin Merriman

Justin Merriman is a freelance photojournalist, commercial photographer, licensed drone pilot, and filmmaker based in Pittsburgh. His career began in Southwestern Pennsylvania, where he worked as a newspaper photographer dedicated to community storytelling and politics. Since then, his work has been recognized with regional, national, and international awards and has appeared in publications around the world.

After covering the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001, Merriman committed to documenting the U.S. military’s War on Terror, reporting from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and across the United States. His international assignments have also included life in Fidel Castro’s Cuba, India’s campaign to eradicate polio, the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba in 2012, the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis in Rome, the second anniversary of Egypt’s revolution, Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, and the uncertain future of Guantanamo Bay in 2015. That same year, he traveled the full U.S.–Mexico border to document immigration issues.

In addition to photography, Merriman works as a director and filmmaker, creating recent films on refugees in Turkey, Jordan, India, and South Africa.

Closer to home, he frequently covers stories across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, focusing on the intersections of economic, environmental, and political life. Most recently, he reported on the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and its impact on the community.

Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Merriman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg with a B.A. in English Writing. In 2009, the university awarded him its prestigious Alumnus of Distinction award. He is a founding member of Argo Collective, a group of photographers sharing diverse visions of America. He lives outside Pittsburgh with his wife, Stephanie Strasburg, a photojournalist with PublicSource.

http://www.justinmerriman.com
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