Michelle Carter wins gold
Michelle Carter wins Gold Medal in Shot put athletics Rio 2016
Michelle Carter stunned the shot put competition with a massive final throw to become the first American woman to win gold in that event. Her sixth and final throw of 20.62 meters — an American record — vaulted her ahead of two-time defending gold medalist Valerie Adams in the first medal field event of the Rio Games. Carter launched her first throw of Friday night’s finals 19.12 meters, then heaved her second attempt 19.82 meters. But Carter saved her best for last, surging ahead of the 32-year-old Kiwi’s top mark of 20.42. Adams, a four-time world champion, is the older sister of Oklahoma City Thunder star Steven Adams. Carter, 30, is the first American woman to earn an Olympic shot put medal since Earlene Brown won bronze in the 1960 Rome Games. She is the daughter of Michael Carter, a former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman who remains the only athlete to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic medal in the same year. He took silver in the shot put at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Michelle Carter wins gold for U.S. in Women’s Shot Put
United States’ Michelle Carter celebrates winning the gold medal in the women’s shot put during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (Matt Dunham / AP)
Michelle Carter of the United States won the country’s first medal since 1960 in women’s shot put — and a gold one, at that — using her last throw of the night (20.63 meters) to beat two-time defending champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand.
Adams had been trying to win the event for the third straight Olympics.
“It’s tough, but it’s sport. Sometimes you take one on the chin,” Adams said.
Gold medal winner United States’ Michelle Carter, right, is congratulated by second placed New Zealand’s Valerie Adams as Hungary’s Anita Marton looks on after the women’s shot put during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (Matt Dunham / AP)
