New Zealand's Holly Robinson competing at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Japan. Photo: supplied / Athletics NZ
New Zealand's Holly Robinson has won a silver medal in the shot put at the Par Athletics World Championships in Japan.
Robinson threw an Oceania record 12.25m with her final throw to move up from third to second.
It was the experienced 29-year-old's sixth Par World medal of her career.
World record-holder Noelle Malkamaki of the US mounted a successful defence of her title with a best throw of 13.12m.
Robinson, the Paralympic javelin F46 champion who opted to focus on the shot put only in Japan, was rewarded with more precious metal after steadily building through the competition which reached a glorious crescendo in the final round.
Her 12.25m added 8cm to her national and Oceania record mark set in Christchurch in February.
Robinson said: "It was a real nerve-wracking comp a lot of the girls were throwing shorter distances. Heading into my last throw I knew I had a medal in the bag, but I really wanted silver.
"I just wasn't technically nailing it [in the earlier rounds], I was a bit out of time the circle was quite sticky, so I needed to focus on getting that foot underneath. I managed to do that, and to produce a very good throw, I'm very happy.
"I'm feeling a bit of relief and excitement. Today proves I can get over that 12m mark again. I've only been over 12m once in my life before today, so to hit it again I was really happy. I know there is a lot more there, so I can't wait for Paris and I'm looking forward to what the next few months will hold."
