Michelle Carter won her first career Olympic gold medal in the shot put with a toss of 20.63m, shattering the American record at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Carter was in second behind two-time Olympic champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand for much of the competition but claimed gold on her sixth and final throw. 



She is the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the shot put and the second American to medal in the event. 

Carter's performance caps off a breakthrough year which included the 2015 world bronze medal, the 2016 world indoor gold medal, and finally her first Olympic gold. She was fifth at the 2012 Olympic Games. 

Her final throw in Rio shattered her own American record mark of 20.24m set at the 2013 USATF Outdoor Championships. 

Fellow American and 'Ole Miss NCAA champion Raven Saunders finished fifth overall in her first ever Olympic Games with a personal best of 19.35.

Michelle Carter wins gold on final throw that broke American record in women's shot put. #BevoInRio pic.twitter.com/cuif3H4yMd

— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) August 13, 2016

First medal, first gold for US track team goes to Michelle Carter, who upset 2x defending champ on final throw. New American record 20.63m

— Sara Germano (@germanotes) August 13, 2016

#GOLD for #MichelleCarter You have made your country, state, family & your church proud!! - Pastor Tony pic.twitter.com/FE26JsqbBy

— Tony Evans (@drtonyevans) August 13, 2016