SPORTS

Diamond League: German Schwanitz creates history

July 30, 2015 08:58 IST

Germany's Christina Schwanitz competes in the women’s shot put. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Germany's Christina Schwanitz effectively wrapped up her first Diamond Race shot put title with a winning throw of 20.13 metres on the eve of the main IAAF Diamond League meeting in Stockholm.

Schwanitz, who has 18 points and a nine-point lead over American Michelle Carter after four successive Diamond League wins this season, needs only to show up for the IAAF Diamond League final in Zurich on September 3 to end a run of four overall victories for world and Olympic champion Valerie Adams.

The 30-year-old New Zealander, voted IAAF Athlete of the Year, is still getting back to full fitness after returning to competition this month following operations last year to her elbow and shoulder.

Despite heavy rain in the Swedish capital's Kungstradgarden square on Wednesday, Schwanitz fouled only one of her six throws with her final effort of 19.24 matching the best distance achieved by second-placed Carter.

European champion Schwanitz has now thrown over 20 metres in her last six competitions.

Adams fouled on her last four efforts and had to settle for fourth place with a best of 18.69m.

A fifth round throw of 18.74m took Hungary's Anita Marton ahead of the frustrated New Zealander, who has yet to win in her three IAAF Diamond League outings this year.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Recommended by Rediff.com

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email