Maddi Wesche has claimed New Zealand's first track and field medal at the Paris Olympics winning silver in an extraordinary women's shot put final at Stade de France.
Germany's Yemisi Ogunleye, who took out the gold, needed something special to topple Wesche and she pulled out an absolute stunner of a final round throw.
China's Jiayuan Song claimed bronze.
Wesche smiled throughout the final and said she felt pretty calm.
"Little bit of nerves going into that fifth throw and then being able to produce that PB throw it felt good and then I just couldn't grab that last one in the sixth throw."
But she was proud of what she had achieved.
Silver medallist New Zealand's Maddison-Lee Wesche celebrates after the women's shot put final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP
"These are the moments that I live for and why I love competing and shotput is a little bit different and I'm glad I stuck with it and I'm so happy to be here and have my family here and my team here. They took time out of their lives to come and watch me throw a metal ball around in a circle so I'm just super chuffed."
Wesche's second round throw of 19.58m kept her in the lead for some time before Germany's Yemisi Ogunleye jumped into the lead in the fifth round.
Wesche responded immediately under pressure, with a personal best of 19.86m in the penultimate round.
The Kiwi was in the gold medal position before Ogunleye's final throw of 20m jumped her into the top spot. Wesche's final attempt of 19.68m meant she had to settle for silver.
Wesche flew under the radar in terms of Kiwi medal prospects these Games, but the 25-year-old has added to New Zealand's legacy in shotput.
Maddi Wesche about to attempt a throw in the Paris Olympics shot put final. Photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP
"I always thought I was capable, being in practice and going through the motions and this is what we had been training for and I kind of like going under the radar a little bit.
"Nobody probably expected me to medal, let alone be probably in the top eight."
Wesche will have to wait another day for the medal ceremony and said "maybe a few tears will come out".
She competed alongside Olympic great Dame Valerie Adams at the Tokyo Olympics three year's ago, when she came sixth.
Dame Valerie won two Olympic golds, a silver and bronze medal.
New Zealand has now stood on the women's shot put podium for five Olympics games in a row.
