Tokyo, Japan, August 1, 2021: At her fourth Olympic Games, China’s Gong Lijiao has finally got her hands on an Olympic gold medal in the women’s shot put.
The 32-year-old Chinese track and field veteran finished first in the event on a hot and sunny Sunday morning at the Olympic Stadium with a throw of 20.58 metres – a personal best.
Raven Saunders of the United States won the silver medal with 19.79, and two-time Olympic champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand took the bronze with 19.62 for her fourth Olympic medal.
Gong, the Asian Games champion in Jakarta in 2018, was competing in her fourth Olympic Games after finishing third in Beijing 2008 (19.20m), second in London 2012 (20.22m) and fourth in Rio 2016 (19.39m).
Her gold here in Tokyo completed the gold-silver-bronze medal set and added to her two gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals in the World Athletics Championships.
Gong dominated the competition, leading from the first round, and produced the second-longest put of all time to seal victory.
“This gold medal is not only for myself, it’s for all of my country, for the people who supported me,” said Gong, whose winning effort of 20.58m was just 5cm short of the world record.
“I really wanted to break the 21 metres line but today I didn't make it. But I am still very, very happy to win.”
It was China’s 22nd gold medal of Tokyo 2020 and their first in athletics.
