Godina completes medal collection
Men's shot put final
John Godina just keeps getting better at the World Indoor Championships. Already the owner of bronze (1997) and silver (1999) medals, the powerful American completed his collection with his best throw of the season, 20.82. Said Godina, "I hit for the cycle; bronze, silver, gold. Next is the Olympics; I’ve got bronze and silver there." Godina had to come on late to overcome his teammate, Adam Nelson, as the United States took the top two medals. Godina now has a world indoor gold to go with the pair he won outdoors in 1995 and 1997
The quick-spinning Nelson took the lead in the first round with a 20.72 effort, while Godina fouled. Godina got on the board in the second stanza with a 20.17 throw. Spain’s Manuel Martinez held down the third medal spot with his 20.10. The medal positions didn’t change in round three, but round four was a lively one. Godina matched his teammate’s 20.72, but moved into the gold-medal slot based on a better second throw. Meanwhile, Italy’s Paolo dal Soglio displaced Martinez with his 20.17 put. The fifth round was a washout, featuring as it did only one legal throw to go with seven fouls.
The ultimate round was rife with excitement. First, Finland’s Timo Altonen claimed the bronze-medal position from dal Sogio with his best of the year, 20.24. That didn’t last long, as Martinez struck back with a 20.67. The medallists were now identified, but which of the Americans would get the gold. Godina’s turn came first and he upped the ante by extending his best of the day to 20.82. Nelson appeared to press too hard in trying to respond and finished the day with his fifth straight foul.
Said Godina, , noting that the freshly painted ring wasn’t conducive to fast spinning, said, "Nobody could really move in it because it was so sticky; it throws off your rhythm."
