Tokyo Olympics: China grabs more athletics gold as Liu Shiying scores ‘breakthrough’ in javelin
- ‘It means a lot to me and my country,’ says Liu after throwing a season’s best effort of 66.34 metres
- The 27-year-old’s medal is China’s second of the athletics programme after Gong Lijiao’s heroics in women’s shot put
China’s Liu Shiying is the Olympic champion in javelin after a first attempt distance of 66.34 metres secured her top spot on the podium at the Olympic Stadium on Friday night.
A season’s best effort for the 27-year-old was enough to win the Olympic gold to add to her Asian Games gold and her silver medal from the 2019 World Championships.
It was China’s second track and field gold of the Games and inches China ever closer to the coveted top spot on the overall medal table with two days of action remaining.
“It means a lot to me and my country,” Liu said. “I want to thank everyone, my team, my country and also my parents.”
Liu, who has a personal best of 67.29m, held off a late challenge from Australia’s Kelsey-Lee Barber, the world No 1 and defending world champion, who leapt up the leaderboard with her last effort. Liu jumped for joy as it was announced the Australian’s throw was only good enough for bronze.
Afterwards she described how the triumph had been a highlight after a difficult period of her career.
