Gold cup by bullet-thrower Yemisi Ogunleye
At 20.00 meters to Gold: Discus thrower Yemisi Ogunleye is Olympic champion. The German improved her personal best in the final attempt and outshone all competitors.
Discus thrower Yemisi Ogunleye sensationally won gold at the Paris Olympics. The 25-year-old achieved 20.00 meters in the Stade de France in her final attempt, securing the first gold medal for the German athletics team at these Games.
Silver went to New Zealand's Maddison-Lee Wesche with 19.86 meters, while China's Song Jiayun took bronze with 19.32 meters.
Alina Kenzel from Stuttgart finished ninth with 18.29 meters, while Katharina Maisch failed to qualify for the final. Ogunleye only secured her place in the final with her third and last qualifying attempt. Reigning champion Chase Jackson from the USA did not qualify.
This is the fourth medal for the German athletics team at the Paris Games, surpassing the federation's target. Previously, decathlete Leo Neugebauer and long jumper Malaika Mihambo each won silver, and the women's 4x100m relay team took bronze just before Ogunleye's gold triumph.
The rain during the relay race made the discus ring slippery. Ogunleye slipped in her first attempt and fell on her knee but adapted to the conditions under the evening sun.
With her second attempt of 19.55 meters, she catapulted herself into second place. With her fifth attempt, Ogunleye briefly took the lead, but Wesche responded immediately. However, Ogunleye achieved the sensation with her final attempt.
Yemisi Ogunleye's victory in Athletics at the Paris Olympics was a historic moment for German athletics, as she broke her personal best and clinched the gold medal in Discus throw. In the same Athletics event, New Zealand's Maddison-Lee Wesche and China's Song Jiayun claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively.
