Shot Put, Women

The top two putters over the last decade had been Kiwi Valerie Adams and China’s Gong Lijiao. Adams had by far the better of the all-time marks, but those had been set years ago, and Gong had the better marks in 2021, and had won the World Championships in 2017 and 2019. Adams had two Olympic golds, from 2008 and 2012, and four World titles, consecutively from 2007-13. Gong had won silver at London in 2012 and bronze in Beijing in 2008, but sadly, neither came at the Games themselves as she was advanced to those medals later after doping disqualifications.

American Raven Saunders was the first thrower in the final and her 19.65 would have been good for the silver medal, although she improved it in round five with 19.79. Four throwers later, Gong recorded 19.95, which settled the competition for gold, although she would have three better marks – with 19.98 in round three, 20.53 in round five, and 20.58 in round six.

Adams rounded out the podium, throwing 19.62 in round three, giving her a fourth Olympic medal and a full set with two golds, a silver, and a bronze. Gong’s gold also completed her set of Olympic medals. Saunders stood out during the competition, competing in a mask in both qualifying and final, with her hair dyed green on the left side and purple on the right.