Team China's Gong Lijiao reacts during the women's shot put final at the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, August 1, 2021. /CFP
Team China's Gong Lijiao reacts during the women's shot put final at the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, August 1, 2021. /CFP
China's Gong Lijiao exhibited dominance in the women's shot put at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, clinching her first Olympic gold medal which is also the first gold for China in field events in Tokyo.
The four-time Olympian set her personal best twice in the final, with a throw of 20.53 meters in the fifth attempt and 20.58 meters in the sixth. Having landed 19.95 meters on her first try, which outcasts the best of her closest rival at the event, at 19.79 meters, any more successful attempts that followed would have won her the gold.
Raven Saunders of the United States and Valerie Adams from New Zealand ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Gong was joined by two teammates in the final. Song Jiayuan finished 5th with 19.14 meters, and Gao Yang, 10th on 18.67 meters.
(With input from Xinhua)