Decoding Yemisi Ogunleye's successful Olympic campaign in women's shot put
Yemisi Ogunleye brought the women's shot put Olympic gold to Germany after a wait of 28 years. The 25-year-old tasted glory at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a sensational 20m (65.6 foot) throw on her sixth and final attempt. She beat New Zealand's Maddison-Lee Wesche who earlier threw a personal best of 19.8m. Here we decode her campaign and accomplishments.
How she fare in the qualification round?
Ogunleye first two attempts in the qualification round, 18.01m and 17.72m, wouldn't have been enough to take her to the final. However, she unleashed a brilliant 19.24m throw on her third and final attempt and finished the round at the third place. Notably, 11 other athletes besides her advanced to the final round at Stade de France.
Her outing in the final
Ogunleye's first attempt in the final was deemed a foul while her second throw traveled 19.55m. This was enough to confirm a podium finish. Ogunleye registered another foul before recording 18.75m on her fourth attempt. Though Ogunleye's fifth attempt read 19.73, Wesche made a better throw on her fifth attempt (19.86m). Hence, the German had to overtake Wesche on her sixth and final attempt.
Glory for Ogunleye
The youngster aced the challenge and recorded a 20m throw. Wesche, who managed a 19.68m on her final attempt, had to settle for the silver. China's Song Jiayuan (19.32m) claimed the bronze medal. Meanwhile, Germany's preceding Olympic gold in women's shot came at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Astrid Kumbernuss tasted glory that year with a throw of 20.56m in the final.
Ogunleye's sensational rise
Ogunyele's rise in the last couple of years has been truly staggering as she had never thrown 19m before May 2023, as per Olympics.com. Moreover, she didn't have a European or world championship medal before February 2024. At the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, Ogunleye won the silver medal with a throw of 20.19m. The same earned her an Olympic berth.
Here are her other accomplishments
The German had to settle for a bronze at the 2024 European Athletics Championships as she recorded 18,62m on her final attempt. Ogunleye also has two national championships under her belt. Meanwhile, the 20.19m at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships remains her career-best throw. She again managed to touch the 20m mark in the all-important Olympic final.
