Gong Lijiao wins first gold in fourth attempt as Asia opens account in Tokyo Olympics.
Gong Lijiao of China opened the medal count for Asia in track and field programme in the Olympic Games winning the shot put gold with a personal best of 20.58 metres at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday.
In temperatures touching 40 degrees, the 32-year-old Chinese led throughout the competition after opening with a 19.95m, widened it to 20.52m on her fifth attempt and then came up with her best ever on her last throw at 20.58m.
This was the fourth Olympics for Gong Lijiao, having won the bronze in 2008 at home and silver in the 2012 edition in London. She had finished fourth in Rio last time.
No Chinese had ever won the women’s shot put gold. In fact no Asian had won it. Huang Zhihong in 1992 and Sui Xinmei in 1996 were silver winners for China in the event with Gong herself taking second place in 2012.
Gong wept as she wrapped her national flag around her and posed for photographers. She was the firm favourite to win in this field and she oblige.
“This gold medal is not only for myself; it’s for all of my country, for the people who supported me,” Gong told reporters. “It’s my great pleasure to win this gold medal.”
Gong fouled only once, her second attempt and was over 19.80m or better in all her other five attempts. “I was pretty nervous for the first three throws, but after the last few throws I just relaxed, and I got my two best scores,” Gong said. “I really wanted to break the 20m mark, and today I got that twice for my personal best. I think all of my efforts were worth it.”
Pressure is welcome says Chinese winner
Asked about the pressure of going into the competition as the favourite, Gong said: ““I like pretty much the pressure, so it’s a special gift for all of the athletes. Actually, only the athletes can experience this kind of pressure and excitement in an event, (unlike) other jobs.”
On having tears in her eyes after her fifth throw and if she knew she had already won the gold, the Chinese replied:
“When I got 20.53m I felt like I could win the gold medal, so yeah, I was pretty sure” She went on, “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.”
The fight for the minor medals was between American Raven Saunders and veteran New Zealander Valerie Adams who was appearing in her fifth Olympics, once American Jessica Ramsey fouled all her three attempts and failed to progress into the final three rounds.
Saunders, fighting mental and injury issues, won the silver at 19.79m, while Adams, mother of two and two-time Olympic champion, had the bronze with 19.62m. Adams had won the silver in Rio five years ago.
As Gong pumped her fists to celebrate her victory Saunders did some sort of a jig for the benefit of the cameras and Adams held aloft a photograph of her son and daughter. It was an emotional moment for all the medalists.
