Lisa Adams celebrates gold in the shot put at the world para athletics championships in New Delhi, 29 Sept, 2025. Photo: Michael Thomas/Athletics NZ
Lisa Adams has given New Zealand a shot put gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, with her opponents unable to get near her huge opening throw.
Adams threw 13.83 metres in the shot put F37 final.
Although she had two foul throws after that, her rivals could not match her opening effort.
Her gold medal was New Zealand's first at these championships.
Adams, 34, has been a dominant performer in the shot put. She holds both the championship record (14.80m) and the world record (15.50m).
She won world titles in 2019 and 2023, and a Paralympic gold in Tokyo 2020.
Adams, who has left hemiplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, began her athletics career in 2018 and made a quick impact, winning gold at the world champs in Dubai just 18 months later with her world record mark of 14.8m.
She decided to retire from the sport early last year, but has returned with a vengeance.
Russian Irina Vertinskaia, who is competing at the championships as a neutral athlete, secured silver with a best throw of 12.95m, while Na Mi was third with 12.28m.
Grimaldi makes sprint final
Sprinter Anna Grimaldi qualified for the final of the women's 100m T47, finishing second in her heat in 12.41secs.
Grimaldi, the 2024 Paralympics 200m champion, has some top-line opponents in the final, including world record holder Brittni Mason (USA), Paralympics 100m champion Kiara Rodriguez and rising star Marie Ngoussou Ngouyi, of France.
Will Stedman cruised into the final of the men's 400m T36, winning his heat in a time of 55.16sec, 1.65sec faster than his closest rival.
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