Kiwi shot putter Tom Walsh has topped the podium again in the lead-up to his Tokyo Olympics bid later this month.
On Thursday (NZ time), Walsh threw 21.46m to claim gold at the Irena Szewinska Memorial meet in Poland, clinching his fourth consecutive win in as many competitions.
But his failure to break the 22m barrier will concern the Rio 2016 bronze medallist, who has been out-thrown by four of his closest rivals this year.
So far in 2021, Walsh has only hit the elusive mark once, throwing 22m on the dot at Nashville last month.
The Cantabrian began with throws of 21.22m, 21.26m and 20.65m, before launching his winning toss.
American Ryan Crouser looms as the hot favourite to take gold in Japan, coming off his world record-shattering 23.37m throw at the US Olympic trials in Oregon last month.
The men's shot put competition at Tokyo begins August 3.
