All-American podium at shot put finale

Just like last year the shot put competition was an urban event of the AG Memorial Van Damme: a discipline on a large square in the heart of the city, with free access for the fans. The competition was held the day before the main event at the King Baudouin Stadium. 

Last year the women took to the Grand Place to show their shot putting prowess. This year the men headed to the Place de la Monnaie to entertain the public and fight for the Diamond League win. 

The square in front of the opera, translated as Coin Square in English, was named after a minting workshop which existed from 1420 to 1890. In 2017 the winner of the shot put competition would receive 50,000 ‘dollar coins’ and a diamond trophy. 

For a long time it looked like Ryan Crouser would get his hands on the money with a meeting record of 22m37. He broke the old 22m16 record of his fellow American Reese Hoffa, established in 2010. 

However, Darrell Hill saved the best for last. With a ferocious scream he hurled the ball to 22m44, 7 cm ahead of Crouser and a whopping 53 cm improvement of his previous personal best. 

Crouser’s final attempt stranded at a creditable 21m92, but he had to concede defeat to Hill. With Joe Kovacs (21m62) in third, the entire podium was American. New Zeeland’s world champion Tomas Walsh had to settle for sixth with a best effort of 21m38. 

STRONGEST MAN/WOMAN OF BELGIUM

The Diamond League shot put final was the grand finale of a great shot put afternoon on the Place de la Monnaie. As a warmup any member of the public could try this or her hand at shot putting to find out who’s the strongest man/woman of Belgium. Brussels mayor Philippe Close and sports councillor Alain Courtois also took part in a duel of political heavyweights.

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