Olympics-Athletics-Germany's Ogunleye wins women's shot put gold on final throw

By Amy Tennery

PARIS (Reuters) -Germany's Yemisi Ogunleye won the gold medal with her final throw of 20.00 metres in the Olympic women's shot put on Friday, edging a thrilling duel with New Zealand's Maddison-Lee Wesche.

Wesche looked as though she had the podium wrapped up with a terrific personal best 19.86 on her fifth throw but had to settle for the second spot on the podium as China's Song Jiayuan (19.32) claimed bronze.

It was the first German victory in the event since Astrid Kumbernuss in 1996 and Ogunleye strode around the Stade de France with the German flag draped around her shoulders after ringing the victory bell.

"In that moment, I was just saying a prayer," Ogunleye told reporters. "It was the moment when I knew that if I have the faith, I am capable to do more than I can think or ask for. In that moment, I just took all the energy that I had left and just put it out there."

The podium was made a bit more accessible when double world champion and hot favourite Chase Jackson crashed out in the heats but Ogunleye still had a decorated field to overcome in order to overcome to add to her world indoor silver title.

Early rain turned to clear skies as Ogunleye took the lead with her second attempt of 19.55 but Wesche overtook her immediately with 19.58 before upping her level on the penultimate try.

With only one more chance to take gold, Ogunleye got the crowd on her side, leading them in a slow clap before steeling herself in the circle for several seconds.

The crowd gasped as she launched the put and she held her hands to her face in a quiet prayer waiting for the results to post. Wesche tried to catch her on her final throw but could only get to 19.68.

Song confirmed her place on the podium on her fourth attempt as her compatriot, the Tokyo champion Gong Lijiao, finished in fifth place.

Canadian world silver medallist Sarah Mitton (17.48) was one of the hot favourites to watch but had a disastrous night, finishing last, while the Tokyo silver medallist Raven Saunders (17.79) of the United States was 11th out of 12.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery, editing by Ed Osmond)