TOKYO: Ecuador’s Juleisy Angulo surprised even herself by launching the javelin 65.12 metres with the second of her six attempts to clinch world championship gold at Japan’s National Stadium on Saturday.
Angulo was ranked 31st in the world coming into the final and her winning throw beat her previous personal best by 1.87 metres.
“My goal here was to reach the final so I am very emotional, in shock. I still can’t believe it,” the 24-year-old said.
“I have dreamed of a world medal since I started athletics. I have faced some adversities, such as two surgeries in my left knee, but I persevered. I never gave up.”
Angulo’s medal was a first at the world championships for Ecuador away from race-walking since Alex Quinonez won a bronze in the 200 metres six years ago in Doha.
While Angulo set out her stall early, Latvian Anete Sietina saved her best until last with a personal best of 64.64m on her final throw of the night to clinch silver.
While the top two were first-time medallists at global championships, Australia’s Mackenzie Little won a second successive world bronze medal after her opening throw of 63.58m was beaten by only Angulo and Sietina.
There was a little bit of payback from Sietina in knocking Little out of the silver medal position with her final throw as the Australian and Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi had done the same to deny her a medal at the last worlds in Budapest.
Little bore absolutely no animosity towards her longtime rival, however.
“Maybe I should be sad that I lost the silver in the sixth round, but actually I’m so happy about my lovely friend Anete,” said Little.
“She is so wonderful, a deserving girl. We’re really competitive and aggressive as athletes, but we can be just as thrilled for each other.” — REUTERS
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