14 Aug 2016

Adams wins silver after dramatic final

7:03 am on 14 August 2016

Rio 2016 Olympics - Olympic shot putter Valerie Adams has had to settle for silver after her American rival, Michelle Carter, threw a massive personal best to clinch gold with her final attempt.

Adams led for most of the final after throwing a season's best 20.42m on her second attempt.

No other competitor topped 20m, until Carter stepped up and threw a massive 20.63m.

Valerie Adams won silver during the women's shot put final in Rio.

Valerie Adams won silver during the women's shot put final in Rio. Photo: AFP

Adams had one last chance to wrench back the lead but could only manage a throw of 20.39m.

This is Adams' third medal as she previously won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics.

Had she won today, she would have been the first woman to win three consecutive gold medals in one discipline.

Afterwards, she told Sky Sports she was not too disappointed.

Valerie Adams missed out on a third gold medal after being pipped by the United States' Michelle Carter.

Valerie Adams missed out on a third gold medal after being pipped by the United States' Michelle Carter. Photo: AFP

"I am ok - it would have been nice to win, that was the whole goal, but that's sport," she said.

"I came out here and left my heart out here and I fought to the very end and after where I was last year to now, I've done a lot of work to be here today and I'm very blessed to be here today.

"It is my third Olympic medal and I've got to take it and run."

She said there were some days in the past months where she questioned if she would make the Games.

"I had to fight to be here today so it's bittersweet - gold would have been great - but this is reality and sport."

It is New Zealand's sixth silver medal of the Rio Games and puts them 19th on the medal table.

Check out our blog below to see how it all unfolded: