Timely win for Walsh in Brussels
Kiwi strongman Tom Walsh walked away with not just a decent paycheque but a welcome jolt of confidence out of the Diamond League shot put final in inner-city Brussels yesterday.
Walsh made an emphatic statement to the rivals for his world shot put crown that will go on the line in
Doha at the end of the month when he successfully defended his
Diamond League title in the specially staged event at De
Brouckere square in
Belgium’s capital on the eve of the main meet.
With his competitionwinning toss of 22.30 metres, the 27-yearold Kiwi became the first male athlete to win back-to-back
Diamond League shot put titles. All three placegetters topped the 22m mark, with Brazilian Darlan Romani (22.15m) second and American Olympic champion Ryan Crouser (22.08m) third.
The burly Kiwi took home not just the US$50,000
(NZ$78,000) in prizemoney for the victory, but a notable win over the big-boppers of his event in the shadow of the world championships in Doha (Sept
26-Oct 6).
Crouser and Romani, who have the two biggest throws of 2019, are expected to be Walsh’s principal rivals for gold in Doha, though the New Zealander continues to show an ability to knock them over when it really matters.
‘‘It gives me great confidence to know I can come out and perform all the time,’’ he said after the event. ‘‘I try to treat training and competition the same – so the same intentions, same routines, and it’s paying back with being so consistent with 22m throws.’’
Walsh cleared 22m with three of his six attempts, including his competition-winning throw first up. He also hit 22.07m and 22.05m with his last two legal tosses. Romani and Crouser made it past 22m just once each.