Shot Put, Women

The event was expected to come down to one of three favorites – China’s Gong Lijiao, the defending gold medalist and two-time World Champion; American Chase Ealey-Jackson, the 2022 and 2023 World Champion; and Canadian Sarah Mitton, gold medalist at the 2024 World Indoor Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Not so fast, my friends. Jackson missed her two first throws and threw only 17.60 with a lot of pressure on her third and last attempt, to finish only 17th in qualifying, and did not make the final. Mitton led the qualifying but she would struggle in the final, finishing 12th and last. Gong fared better, but her best effort could only bring her fifth place.

The final was held after a rainstorm and the wet ring affected the competitors. American Jaida Ross led after the first round with 19.28 metres. It would be her best mark of the night and almost brought her to the podium, but not quite. New Zealand’s Maddi Wesche took the lead in round two with 19.58 metres, with Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye moving into second place at 19.55. In round four, China’s Song Jiayuan moved ahead of Ross with a throw of 19.32 metres, which would be good for the bronze medal.

Fireworks went off in round five as Ogunleye went into the lead with 19.73 metres, only to see Wesche take it back with the next throw, 19.86 metres. It would not hold up as Ogunleye took the gold medal on her final throw, with a mark of 20.00 metres. Wesche could not match that, her final mark of 19.68 not improving her position as she took the silver medal.