Chinese shot put legend Gong Lijiao wrapped up her 10th World Athletics Championships journey with a ninth-place finish in Tokyo on Saturday, marking a bittersweet moment for the 34-year-old veteran. Her throw of 18.96 meters fell short of the podium, while compatriot Zhang Linru claimed seventh with 19.16 meters.
🇳🇱 Dutch powerhouse Jessica Schilder dominated the field with a 20.29-meter gold-winning heave, followed by Team USA’s Chase Jackson (20.21m) and New Zealand’s Maddison-Lee Wesche (20.06m) – the only three athletes to smash the 20-meter barrier. 💥
While Gong didn’t add to her collection of seven World Championships medals, her decade-long career remains iconic. Fans flooded social media with 🫶 emojis and #RespectTheVeteran hashtags, celebrating her enduring impact on the sport.
