Valerie Vili wins women's shot put gold

Valerie Vili wins women's shot put gold

Valerie Vili of New Zealand competes in women's shot put final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 16, 2008. Valerie Vili claimed the title of the event. (Xinhua Photo)


BEIJING, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Valerie Vili from New Zealand was crowned in the women's shot put final at the Beijing Olympic Games on Saturday evening, adding the second gold medal to the country's haul in the tournament.

Vili, 23, defeated all other 14 opponents in the final with a 20.56 meter putting of the four-kilogram lump. She made the gold-winning put at her first attempt.

The Kiwi, bronze medalist in 2005 world championships, also achieved her personal best and all her six attempts exceeded 20 meters. What would upset all others more is, no one else, except the silver medalist, ever made that distance in the competition.

Natallia Mikhnevich from Belarus, grabbed the silver medal with a throw of 20.28 meters in her second attempt. The 26-year-old did not catch up with her personal best which was 20.70.

Mikhnevich's fellow Nadzeya Ostapchuk won the bronze medal by a come-from-behind endeavor. She was behind Cuba's Misleydis Gonzalez until the fifth attempt in which she got a best result of 19.86 meters.

China's Gong Lijiao finished sixth, the best rank among all three Chinese qualifiers in the final. She made a put of 19.04 meters.