by Larry Eder
Nadzeya Ostapchuk, Belarus, Gold medal, shotput,
photo by PhotoRun.net
Valerie Adams of New Zealand had won the shot put in Osaka, Beijing, Berlin and Daegu. Nadzeya Ostapchuck of Belarus stopped her reign, this is how she did it..
Valerie Adams, 2011 World Champs, photo by PhotoRun.net
After her first round leading with her 20.61m, Valerie Adams, for the first time in a major championships since 2007, was relegated to silver.
Nadzeya Ostapchuck took the lead in round two with a throw of 21.31m, after a first round 20.01m. In round three, Ostapchuk improved to 21.36m, then 21.15m, 21.32 and a final round foul (she had one by then).
Valerie Adams seemed to try too hard. She hit 20.61m in round 1, then fouled, hit 20.70m for round 3, fouled twice and then, 20.24m.
Evgeniia Kolodko of Russia hit 20.48m PB, her personal best in round six, to take the bronze from LiJao Gong of China, who threw 20.11.
American Michelle Carter finished sixth, throwing 19.42m in round four, but that was not good enough. Her team mate, Jillian Camerena Williams, did not make the final. A pretty blah day for the American throwers.
But for Nadzeya Ostapchuk, her constent pressure and best throw (21.31m then 21.36m) were the two farthest throws in Olympic competition since 1988.
WShotput: 1. N. Ostapchuk, BLR,21.36m, 2.V.Adams, NZ, 20.70m, 3.E. Kolodko, RUS,20.48m PB, 4.L Gong, CHN, 20.22m, 5.L Ling, CHN, 19.63m, 6.M Carter, US, 19.42m, 7. X. Liu, CHN, 19.18m, 8.G Arcanjo, BRA,19.02m, 9.I Tarasanova, RUS, 19.00m, 10. N Duco, CHI, 18.80NR, 11.C Szhwantz, GER, 18.47m, 12.B Mihhnevich, BLR, 18.42m, #london2012, #olympics #shotput
