Vili misses record

Olympic champion Valarie Vili maintained her supremacy when she bagged women's shot put gold medal.

She cleared only 20.44m but that was good enough for her to secure the first place. Incidentally, it was exactly one year ago - on August 16, 2008 that the New Zealander threw 20.56m to win the Olympic Games gold in Beijing. On her lead up to Berlin World Championship, Vili was shaping well with a career best throw of 20.69m in Rio de Janeiro in May this year.

Indeed, despite opening with a solid 19.40m, Vili ended round one outside the medal positions in fourth. It was German favourite Nadine Kleinert who took the early lead, setting a personal best of 20.06m - prompting the crowd to produce arguably the highest decibel levels ever witnessed in a women's Shot competition.

Natallia Mikhnevich (19.66m) and Chinese youngster Gong Lijiao (19.69m) also laid down strong markers in the first round, putting the ball in Vili's court.

But Vili registered a foul in the second round as Gong improved to 19.89m, a personal best for the Olympic fifth-placer. The New Zealander looked to be in trouble. She had to respond.

Vili, who turns 25 years in October, was able to keep her cool, however, as she stepped into the circle in round three and sent the shot flying out to 20.25m to move into the lead. Kleinert responded soon after though with a distance of 20.20m, letting Vili know that the competition was not yet over.

The 33-year-old German was unable to improve in the final three rounds but Vili wrapped up the title in the fifth with a 20.44m effort - her fourth best ever.

D.W