Local athletes win big at Rio Olympics

WASHINGTON - The Rio Olympics are drawing to a close Sunday, and local athletes made a huge impression during the games' two weeks!

The DMV kicked off the games with a bang when Virginia native Ginny Thrasher scored a gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle. Thrasher's was the first gold medal awarded in Rio.

Of course, local swimming powerhouses Katie Ledecky, of Bethesda, and Michael Phelps, of Baltimore, continued to leave the competition in the pool far in their wake.

Ledecky took home four gold medals and one silver, and Phelps made history when he became the first swimmer to win the same event at four straight Olympics.

Also in the pool, Rockville native Jack Conger also medaled at the games, as did Maryland swimmers Cierra Runge, Allison Schmitt and Chase Kalisz.

Meantime, Maryland native Helen Maroulis took home the first-ever Olympic gold medal in women's wrestling when she defeated Japan's Saori Yoshida 4-1 in the 53-kilogram freestyle final.

"I've dreamed of this my whole life," Maroulis said of her victory. "I put it on this pedestal."

The DMV's own Matthew Centrowitz also scored a historic medal when he won the first gold in the 1500-meter final for the U.S. since 1908.

Finally, two former Terps field hockey players, Katie Bam and Jill Witmer, also took home gold medals.

On whole, it was an incredible Olympic performance for athletes from the Washington area!