China versus the USA? World Champs versus the next big thing? An intriguing battle will take place for Olympic honours, here’s our women’s Shot Put preview.
Schedule
Friday 30 July 11:25 UK Time (Qualification) Sunday 1 August 02:35 UK Time (Final)
2021 Furthest Throws
| 2021 Rankings | Distance (m) | Athlete | Country |
| 1 | 20.39 | Lijiao Gong | China |
| 2 | 20.12 | Jessica Ramsey | USA |
| 3 | 19.96 | Raven Saunders | USA |
| 4 | 19.75 | Auriol Dongmo | Portugal |
| 4 | 19.75 | Valerie Adamas | New Zealnd |
| 6 | 19.65 | Aliona Dubitskaya | Belarus |
| 7 | 19.45 | Felisha Johnson | USA |
| 7 | 19.45 | Chase Ealey | USA |
| 9 | 19.34 | Fanny Roos | Sweden |
| 10 | 19.32 | Jiayuan Song | China |
| 10 | 19.32 | Maggie Ewen | USA |
British interest
Sophie McKinna will need to throw out of her skin to make the final but she comes to Tokyo with a good degree of championship experience having finished 5th at the two most recent Commonwealth Games.
The favourites
Lijap Gong has to start favourite, having won world gold in both Doha and London. She will be hoping to banish the disappointment of a fourth place in Rio which came after consercutive medals at Bejiing (bronze) and London (silver). She has thrown within four centimetres of her lifetime best this year.
She will be challenged by a host of contenders, lead by Jessica Ramsey and Raven Saunders of the USA. For both 2021 has been a breakthrough season. Aliona Dubitskaya of Belarus has thrown towards 20 metres as well.
Valerie Adams maybe 36 but she is a two time Olympic Champion (Bejiing, London) and four time World Champ. Whilst not able to throw the 21 metres plus she could in 2011 if anyone slips up the New Zealander could find herself on the podium. She comes to Tokyo on the back of a win in Stockholm.
Finally Auriol Dongmo of Portugal is the European Indoor Champ and will hope to build on that and some competitive showings in the Diamond League (1st in Gateshead, 2nd Stockholm).
Our medal predictions
- Lijao Gong
- Valerie Adams
- Auriol Dongmo
Records
WR: 22.63m Natalya Lisovskaya (1987)
OR: 22.41m Ilona Slipianek (1980 Moscow)
Featured image “Valerie Adams (New Zealand)” by Sum_of_Marc is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
