With a sensational final-round throw, the Netherlands’ Jessica Schilder captured gold in the women’s shot put final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday (20).
The Dutch athlete was in fourth place after five rounds with 19.51m, but she unleashed a throw of 20.29m in the final round to seize the lead. Two-time champion Chase Jackson of the USA had one last chance to claim a third successive title, but she fell just 8cm short of Schilder and was forced to settle for silver.
It marks the biggest win of twice European champion Schilder's career and crowns a brilliant year that also includes gold in front of her home fans at the Apeldoorn 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships in March, as well as silver at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing.
Schilder opened modestly in Tokyo with 18.23m, improved to 19.51m in the fourth round. It left her in fifth place before delivering her golden throw with her final attempt.
New Zealand’s Maddison-Lee Wesche had led from the opening round with 20.06m but was unable to improve and had to settle for bronze. Sweden’s Fanny Roos finished fifth with 19.54m, while Germany’s Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye placed sixth with 19.33m.
Disbelief for Schilder
"I still cannot believe it has happened," said the new world champion. "Not because I was not prepared, but I became ill last week. I had a fever for three days. That is why my confidence was lower and I didn't think it was possible anymore to get a medal here.
"But my coach said that nothing is impossible and I believed him 100 per cent. Even after not such a good start to the final I said that I'm going to try until the end. And it worked.
"Being in fifth position before the last round I thought, 'No, I don't want to meddle with this. I have to end the season on a high note.' I wanted a world championships medal so badly and I had to do it. You don't have a chance like this very often."