Paralympic Athletics World Championships, Legnante is immediately gold in the shot put

For the fifth consecutive time, the gold medal in the F11 shot put at the Paralympic Athletics World Championships goes to Assunta Legnante. After having already reached the podium in Paris with bronze in the discus, the Paralympic champion of London and Rio beat all her opponents with the victory throw at 15.55, completing the five gold (2013-2015-2017-2019 -2023). The Uzbek Safiya Burkhanovac won the silver medal with 13.72 and the Chinese Zhao Yuping the bronze with 12.78. Thus the gold medals for the national team in Paris rise to four and the total medals to eight, with one silver and three bronzes).

“I am still here! It was an empty pass two years ago in Tokyo (where he won silver, ed). Weight is my race, I care more about it than the puck and it shows. She had to go like this. There are five golds and they become six, if we count the victory in the Dubai discus. I don’t consider myself an idol – the world champion states determinedly -, maybe saying a point of reference is better, but I just want to be a stimulus for the young ones or for those who are already there. I still manage to do well what I do, I’m happy to be back to certain sizes and as long as I get on the platform with my legs, you’ll always see me here» explains the captain of the Italian expedition to Paris. It is also time for dedications: «The medal is all for me. If I’m here, it’s because I still want to. I can say many thanks to my coach who follows me, Roberto Minnetti, to the Federation, to all the boys who were here, at home to my family, to the friends who support me».

For the woman of all records, the entry measure on the platform immediately approaches 15 meters (14.92) and with this she takes the lead of the classification that will never give up. The second and third races at 14.30 and 14.64 prepare for the 15.27 which lead her towards the best performance found on the fifth attempt and then conclude at 14.37. Burkhanovac conquers the silver medal with 13.72 and Yuping takes third place with 12.78.