Current:Home > MyAmerican discus thrower Valarie Allman makes it back to back gold medals at Paris Games -EliteFunds
American discus thrower Valarie Allman makes it back to back gold medals at Paris Games
View
Date:2025-04-18 14:34:38
SAINT-DENIS, France — The Olympic field in women's discus had three years to close the gap on Valarie Allman, and on Monday, they found out they'll need four more.
The defending gold medal winner from the 2021 Tokyo Games did it again for Team USA Monday, making it back-to-back golds with a throw of 69.50 at the Paris Olympics. The silver medal went to China's Bin Feng (67.51) and the bronze to Croatia's Sandra Elkasevic (67.51).
Allman fouled on her first attempt, landing the discus wide of the right-side boundary, but took the lead on her second try with a throw of 68.74. She put the competition totally out of reach with the 69.50 on her fourth attempt.
"It felt so wrong. I felt like a fish out of water," Allman said of the foul on her first attempt, one of two fouls among six throws. "It's so much about rhythm and timing and feel, and I wasn't quite calibrated."
If there was any doubt that Allman was the one to beat, she removed it in qualifying on Friday with a throw of 69.59 that was nearly four meters farther than anyone else. She didn't win the gold quite that comfortably, but easily enough.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
"I wanted to embrace the crowd, I wanted to embrace this moment of being at the Olympics and giving it my all," Allman said. "And to end with a throw with the whole crowd engaged right there, that's one of those moments I'll remember forever."
SALUTATIONS:Simone Biles ran afoul of salute etiquette. She made sure it didn’t happen on floor
NUM, NUM, NUM:Katie Ledecky meets Sesame Street's Cookie Monster and Elmo at Paris Games
Allman won her gold medal in Tokyo with a throw of 68.98 and holds the national record at 71.46. She is now only the fourth woman ever to win two Olympic gold medals in discus, and just the third to do so in back-to-back Games. Previously, it was last accomplished by Croatian Sandra Perkovic, who took consecutive golds in 2012 and 2016.
It's been a remarkable professional career for someone whose first passion was dance. The coordination and balance required translated well to discus, and Allman began turning from dancer to discus while at Longmont (Colo.) Silver Springs High School. She took to it quickly enough to become a national champion and earn a scholarship to Stanford.
Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (78)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- CNN changes morning show lineup again, adds extra Kasie Hunt hour
- Taylor Swift makes Grammys history with fourth album of the year win for 'Midnights'
- Celine Dion's surprise Grammys appearance gets standing ovation amid health battle
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Jay-Z calls out Grammys over Beyoncé snubs: 'We want y'all to get it right'
- A Tesla plunged into frigid water in Norway. The motorists were rescued by a floating sauna as their car sank.
- Below Deck Fans, Get Ready for a Shocking Amount of Season 11 Firings
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Fantasy football meets Taylor Swift in massive 'Swiftball' competition
Ranking
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Hosting for Chiefs vs. 49ers? These Customer-Loved Amazon Products Will Clean Your Home Fast
- Miley Cyrus wins first Grammy of her career for Flowers
- Bijou Phillips Gives Rare Life Update Amid Danny Masterson Divorce
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Tribal sovereignty among the top issues facing Oklahoma governor and Legislature
- Brutally honest reviews of every 2024 Grammys performance, including Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish
- Meryl Streep presents Grammys record of the year, hilariously questions award category
Recommendation
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
Beyoncé hasn't won Grammys album of the year. Who was the last Black woman to hold the prize?
Flaco, the owl that escaped from Central Park Zoo, still roaming free a year later in NYC
Colorado Springs school district plans teacher housing on district property
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Israeli family on their agonizing Gaza captivity, and why freeing the hostages must be Israel's only mission
Jay-Z calls out Grammys over Beyoncé snubs: 'We want y'all to get it right'
1000-Lb Sisters’ Tammy Slaton Fires Back at “Irritating” Comments Over Her Excess Skin