Jessica Schilder caused a stunt in the night from Saturday to Sunday by taking bronze at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene. De Volendam is the first Dutch woman ever to receive a World Cup medal in the shot put.
The 22-year-old Schilder was no more than an outsider for a slice in the final battle. With a distance of 19.77, which she bumped twice in the final, she surprisingly finished third. Canada’s Sarah Mitton also hit 19.77, but her second best distance was much less far (19.18) and that was the deciding factor.
The gold went to American Chase Ealey, who scored 20.42, and Chinese Olympic champion Lijiao Gong took bronze with 20.39. With 19.77, Schilder also improved her Dutch record of 19.69, which had only stood for a month.
Painter’s bronze is not the first Dutch shot put medal at a World Cup, which has been held since 1983. The men had already hit it twice. Rutger Smith took silver in 2005 and bronze in 2007.