TOKYO, Japan — Gong Lijiao of China heaved a personal best of 20.58m in the last round of the women’s shot put final to capture the gold medal in the morning session on Day Three of athletics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games here on Sunday. Result
Gong who entered the Games as the pre-event favorite, having produced the two best marks for the season, jumped out to an early lead when she threw 19.95m in the first round and never capitulated.
The Chinese thrower who won a bronze medal in 2008 and silver in 2012, finally added the gold to her collection and achieved the milestone while setting two personal bests.
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After scratching her second attempt, Gong improved her lead to 19.98m in the third round, threw 19.80m on her fifth attempt before delivering her previous PB in round five at 20.53m.
With the victory already in the bag, the 32-year-old who just missed the podium at Rio 2016, punched the iron ball out to 20.58m for her fourth mark over 20-meters in 2021.
American Raven Saunders, the 5th place finisher in Rio five years ago, takes the silver this time with her best effort of 19.79m, while New Zealand’s Valerie Adams, the 2008 and 2012 champion and silver medalist in 2016, took the bronze in Tokyo with 19.62m to become the first woman to win four Olympic medals in a single field event.
