Sport / Commonwealth Games 2018

Gold for Walsh, but he loses a bet

05:32 am on 10 April 2018

World Champion Tom Walsh won gold in the men's shot, but he was a little disappointed not to break the world record.

Walsh won with a best throw of 21.41m, not enough to break the Games record he set in qualifying, meaning he lost the ritual pre-competition bet he made with his coach.

"I was just pushing a bit, and I was trying to throw far, rather than let it happen," he said.

"So, a little disappointed with the distance but that gold medal, it was what I came here for, and to have that and to have that box ticked is awesome."

He now has the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 on his mind.

Photo: © Copyright Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photosport Ltd 2018

"I'm back home tomorrow and I am home for five or six days, and then I am back off to the United States for a few competitions, so no rest for the wicked."

Walsh's gold was the second medal for the New Zealand track and field team last night after para athlete Holly Robinson won silver in the women's javelin with a personal best throw of 43.32 metres.

Para athlete Holly Robinson Photo: Photosport

She was beaten by her arch-rival, Paralympic champion Hollie Arnold of Wales, who broke her own world record with a throw of 44.43 metres.

Robinson's best throw had also broken the world record, before Arnold produced the throw of the night and the best in history.