Portrait

Ginny Thrasher 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.

Shriner Clowns by Justin Merriman

Shriner Clowns (clockwise from top left) Jerry Sciullo of Lower Burrell, "Dots,"  John Koedel, of Glenshaw, "Bunkey," Ronald Wassel of Creighton, "Jingles," Tom Morrissey of White Oak, "Redd," John Hisiro of Charleroi, "Hissie," and George Edwards of Jefferson Hills, "Little Georgie," photographed at the Big Butler Fair on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.

Future Interfaces by Justin Merriman

Carnegie Mellon University PhD students Gierad Laput, 29, left, and Yang Zhang, 26, right, at Future Interfaces Group, in Oakland on Wednesday, June 29, 2016. The two work on human computer interactions with a focus on hardware and sensing including "Electric Friction" and "Skin Track."

Huang Xiang by Justin Merriman

Huang Xiang, one of the greatest poets of 20th-century China, stands in front of his North Side home on Wednesday afternoon. The City of Asylum in Pittsburgh is providing a safe haven for Xiang to create his poetry and art. In China, Xiang was severely persecuted and spent nearly two decades of his life in re-education through labor camps and communist-operated factories and prisons.