Win for Valerie - a week late

Valerie Adams has exacted some revenge on American rival Michelle Carter in Lausanne. But it won’t get her an Olympic gold medal.

Adams, who was relegated to the silver medal in Rio two weeks ago, threw 19.94m to win the women’s shot put event at the latest Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday, beating gold medallist Carter by 45cm.

In fact, Adams - the back-toback Olympic gold medallist from the Beijing and London Games had two throws better than Carter’s best (19.49m) and a third just 1cm behind.

‘‘Today was a bit hot but I’m happy with my results,’’ Adams said. ‘‘The aim of the game now is to win, and, especially after the Olympics, my intention is to win all my remaining meets until the end of the season. So 19.94 and a win, I’m happy with that.’’

Carter denied Adams a third consecutive Olympic gold medal on August 12 when she threw her last shot in the Olympic final 20.63m, a personal best. Up to that point, Adams had a stranglehold on the competition with her early 20.42m attempt setting the pace.

The 31-year-old Kiwi had one final chance to salvage the gold but could only manage 20.39m and had to settle for the silver to become just the second Kiwi female to win medals at three straight Games.

Germany’s Christina Schwanitz finished third in Lausanne with an effort of 19.33m, while American Brittany Smith was fourth at 18.94m with a season’s best throw. Rio bronze medallist Anita Marton of Hungary failed to make the topfour final in the seven-woman field, with her best 18.60m.

The victory likely sealed the Diamond League title for Adams, who now has a 21-point lead over American Tia Brooks, who did not qualify for the Olympics, and Marton, with one event remaining in Brussels on September 9.

Adams took the lead early with a throw of 19.83m at her second attempt. Adams extended that with her sixth and final throw to confirm her fourth Diamond League title of the season. Adams won the 2014 Diamond League crown.