POLE Anita Wlodarczyk underlined her absolute dominance of the women’s hammer by throwing a world-record 82.29 meters to win Olympic gold by more than 5-1/2 meters Monday.

    The only woman to have thrown the hammer further than 80 meters, the world champion had already broken the Olympic record with a second throw of 80.40 when she entered the ring for the third time in Rio.

    Wlodarczyk, 31, screamed in delight before the projectile even landed, knowing she had done enough to better the mark of 81.08 she set in Cetniewo in Poland earlier this month.

    Zhang Wenxiu of China threw 76.75 to add a silver medal to the bronze she won in London four years ago. Sophie Hitchon was third with a British-record 74.54 as she took a first ever medal for her country in the event.

    Elsewhere, Bahrain teenager Ruth Jebet won the women’s 3,000 steeplechase but narrowly missed out on the world record.

    (SD-Agencies)