Jessica Schilder Wins World Shot Put Gold With Final Throw in Tokyo

Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands won her first world title in the women's shot put at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 with a dramatic final-round throw of 20.29 meters, surpassing her previous best in major championships. She came from fifth place to clinch gold, denying American Chase Jackson a third consecutive title, who secured silver with a throw of 20.21 meters. New Zealand's Maddison-Lee Wesche, who led much of the competition with a personal best opening throw of 20.06 meters, earned bronze. Schilder overcame a recent illness and low confidence to deliver a winning performance in the final attempt, while Jackson pushed herself to her limits in a highly competitive event. The competition format, with qualification and final rounds on the same day, presented additional challenges for the athletes. The final results marked a breakthrough for Schilder, who had been a two-time European champion and 2022 bronze medallist, achieving her goal of a world championship medal.