- Ogunleye, the ball thrower, wins Olympic gold
Discus thrower Yemisi Ogunleye from Mannheim sensationally won gold at the Paris Olympics. The 25-year-old achieved 20.00 meters in her final attempt at the Stade de France. The second-placed athlete in the indoor World Championships and third in the European Championships secured 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 bronze was won by China's Song Jiayun with 19.32 meters.
Alina Kenzel from Stuttgart finished ninth with 18.29 meters, while Katharina Maisch failed to qualify for the final. Ogunleye secured her place in the final with her third and last attempt in the qualification. Reigning champion Chase Jackson from the USA failed to qualify.
Sensation in the final attempt
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 secured bronze just before Ogunleye's gold.
The rain during the relay race made the discus circle slippery. Rotating thrower Ogunleye slipped in her first attempt and fell on her knee, but she adjusted to the conditions under the evening sun.
With her second attempt of 19.55 meters, Ogunleye moved into second place. She briefly took the lead with her fifth attempt, but Wesche responded immediately. However, Ogunleye achieved the sensation with her final attempt.
After securing the first gold medal for the German athletics team at the Paris Olympics, Yemisi Ogunleye from Mannheim faced tough competition in the final. Alina Kenzel from Stuttgart, who also participated, finished ninth in the event.
