The best shot putter of the world gave it her all again today. Competing to the sound of a Swiss folksy tune, Valerie Adams launched the 5kg shot to 20.97m in her very first attempt. It was a very powerful statement by the 28-year-old Oceania record holder (21.24m), in which she set a new world leading performance (beating her own 20.90m), and a new meeting record (breaking her own 20.81m).
In the second attempt, she added another centimetre, landing her shot at 20.98m. Even her additional three valid attempts (20.66m, 20.76m, and 20.42m) would have earned her a win and a diamond. Yevgeniya Kolodko, Olympic silver medallist and fifth at the recent world championships, was a runner-up. With a result of 19.97m, the Russian athlete improved her best performance of the season, as well.
A yodel song for Swiss fans
„Half of this trophy goes to Switzerland,“ Valerie Adams commented, referring to her Swiss coach Jean-Pierre Egger. She started working with him and Werner Günthör three years ago, and has never lost a competition since then. “I chose the “Ku Ku Jodel” for my competition today to express my gratitude to my Swiss fans,” Adams added. She also mentioned her training partner Matthias Sempach, wishing him all the best for his own competition at the upcoming national Swiss wrestling competition.
Unstoppable Ryan Whiting
The second event of Weltklasse Zürich at Zurich Main Station featured the strongest men of athletics. They were introduced to the crowd by Swiss guitarist Slädu and radio host Patrick Hässig, and they put on a great show for 1000 spectators who attended the competition at the special arena in the ticket hall of the station. Swiss junior record holder Gregory Ott was the first to enter the ring (17.19.m, using a 6kg shot). He was followed by the world’s best shot putters, who performed at an impressive level. In his first attempt, world championship silver medallist Ryan Whiting (USA) achieved exactly the same result as in Moscow: 21.57m. But this time, two-time world champion David Storl (GER/21.19m) did not manage to outperform him. With his attempts of 21.99m and 22.03m, Whiting broke the record of the station’s arena and got close to his own world leading performance of 22.28m. His results earned him the fourth win in the IAAF Diamond League 2013. The diamond trophy will be his after the final event in Brussels next week.
29 August, 2013
