SHOT DIVA HAS THROWS GLITZ
NEW OLYMPIC CHAMPION HAS SET OUT TO CHANGE THE IMAGE OF THE EVENT
CRAZINESS AND CONTROVERSY IN THE WORLD OF ATHLETICS
Michelle Carter: proving ‘girly’ can also be strong
MARK SHEARMAN
THE WOMEN’S shot put is hardly renowned as the glamour event of track and field. Traditionally dominated by athletes from behind the Iron Curtain, it has been soured by multiple drugs positives and the elite performers have a stereotypical brutish reputation.
All that is changing, though, after the latest Olympic title was won by a self-styled ‘Shot Diva’ called Michelle Carter (see p45). The American beat Valerie Adams to gold last weekend with a US record in the final round and then explained how she has always been “girly” and has a passion for “makeup, fashion and embracing my femininity”.