Shot putter Lisa Adams has added a second gold to New Zealand's medal tally at the Tokyo Paralympics, dominating her F37 competition at the national stadium.
Watched by older sister, coach and two-time Olympic champion Dame Valerie Adams, the Kiwi world champion and recordholder entered the competition as red-hot favourite to win, and lead from her opening throw of 14.36m - a new Paralympic record.
She extended that mark to 14.54m in the second round, then reached 15.04m with her fourth effort and 15.12m with her fifth, before matching that on her final throw. All six of her puts were well beyond the previous Games mark of 13.96m, but short of her own 15.50m world standard.
Afflicted with cerebral palsy, Adams, 30 - older sister of NBA basketball star Steven Adams - was recruited to athletics, after representing the New Zealand men's team in physical disability rugby league in 2018 and hasn't looked back since.
"I'm very happy," Adams says. "It's a very euphoric feeling. Happy, relief, proud. Very emotional. It's unreal. It hasn't sunken in yet.
"I am in the best physical form I've been in, but I was having fun. I was smiling.
"My coach told me to just go out here and enjoy it because we had done all the work, and that's what I did, I had a really fun time out there. It was so amazing."
Adams says standing atop the podium and hearing the NZ national anthem is an experience she'll never forget.
"Just reflecting over the last three years of work and choices, sacrifices, setbacks, growth.
"The anthem's playing for us, and just thinking of how proud I am, how much I wanted to do this for me and my son... how special it's been to be on this journey with my sister, just all of it.
"During the playing of our anthem it was just reflecting, and I was so emotional about it, because it's been so special, so hard, so rewarding, but I felt very supported and loved.
"I was really, really proud to do this for Aotearoa and our little team of five mil. It's like a dream come true."
At Tokyo, she finished well clear of nearest rivals Na Mi (13.69m) and Yingli Li (13.33m) of China, with fellow Kiwi Catilin Dore recording 9.03m in eighth.
Adams' victory follows that of swimmer Tupou Neiufi in the S8 100m backstroke on Friday and the silver medal won by Sophie Pascoe in the SB8 100 breaststroke on Thursday.
She will return to contest the F37 discus next Saturday.
Saturday, August 28
WHEELCHAIR RUGBY
7th/8th classification playoff - Wheel Blacks (Mixed) lost to Denmark 56-53 (eighth)
ATHLETICS
Women’s Shot Put final - Lisa Adams (F37), 1st 15.12m (Paralympic record, gold medal)
Women’s Shot Put final - Caitlin Dore (F37), 8th 9.03m
Women’s 200m heats - Danielle Aitchison (T36), 1st 30.12s (progresses to final)
