Tokyo Olympics: Gong Lijiao secures China’s first athletics gold with career-best shot put

Chinese world No 1 fails to hit 20m mark with first three throws before producing lifetime best

‘This gold medal is not only for myself, it’s for all of my country, for the people who supported me,’ says 32-year-old

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Gong Lijiao unleash a throw. Photo: Gettyimages

Published: 12:43pm, 1 Aug 2021Updated: 10:59pm, 1 Aug 2021

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China’s Gong Lijiao has secured China’s first medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games athletics with victory in the women’s shot put, dedicating her win to the Chinese Communist Party on its centenary.

Gong threw 20.58 metres to beat out Raven Saunders of the USA in silver and Kiwi veteran Valerie Adams in bronze.

The Chinese world No 1 has led the field this year but, after failing to hit the 20m mark with her first three throws in the final, stepped up and produced a lifetime best of 20.58m in the final.

“I was pretty nervous for the first three throws, but after the last free throws I just relaxed, and I got my two best scores. I really wished to break the 20m line, and today I got that twice for my personal best and I think all of my efforts were worth it,” Gong said.

Gong Lijiao about to unleash a throw. Photo: AFP

“When I got 20.53m, I felt like I could win the gold medal, so yeah, I was pretty sure that the win was mine.