The 23-year-old world number one took the Olympic title with her last two shots, finishing on a total of 502.9 points as Poland’s Sylwia Bogacka claimed the silver medal and Yu Dan of China finished in bronze-medal position.
Bogacka had been leading until the eighth attempt of the 10-shot final, when a wayward effort handed Yi first place.
“It was very exciting,? said Yi afterwards. ?I?m very happy. I’m very grateful to China and to my mother and father who I love very much.”
“I am pleased, not nervous like I was in the competition,? she added. “I have been up since 5 this morning. There was a lot of pressure on me.”