Kitaguchi Wins Japan's First Javelin Gold

Haruka Kitaguchi made history by winning the gold medal in women's javelin at the Paris Olympics with a season-best throw of 65.80 meters, becoming the first Japanese woman to secure an Olympic gold in a field event. Kitaguchi's victory was decisive, as her initial throw set a benchmark that her competitors, Jo-Ane van Dyk of South Africa and Nikola Ogrodnikova of the Czech Republic, could not surpass, earning them silver and bronze respectively. This achievement adds to her accolades, including a world championship title in 2023. Kitaguchi's success comes after rigorous training in the Czech Republic under coach David Sekerak, which significantly boosted her performance. Her emotional reaction underscored the weight of her historic achievement for Japanese athletics. Kitaguchi’s journey to this moment included overcoming a challenging season and finishing only 12th in her previous Olympics.