Michelle Carter Makes History as First American to Win Gold in Women's Shot Put
Shot putter Michelle Carter won gold Friday at the 2016 Summer Olympics – the first women ever to do so for Team U.S.A.
She's also the first American woman to win a medal in the Olympic event since 1960, when Earlene Brown claimed the bronze.
On her sixth and final final throw, Carter broke her own American record with a 67-foot, 8½-inch heave.
Going into the event, it appeared New Zealand's Valerie Adams would be the claim her third consecutive gold in the event after winning the top prize at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She was in first place throughout – though ended up earning silver by a difference of only 9½ inches.
For Carter, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Her win comes 32 years after her father, Michael Carter, took the silver in the same event at the Los Angeles 1984 Games.
A photo posted by Michelle Carter (@shotdiva) on Jul 1, 2015 at 9:27am PDT
The Carters are the the first father-daughter combination from Team U.S.A. to win medals at the Games out of 230 father-daughter past competitors. He also won three Super Bowl rings – as a football player with the San Francisco 49ers.
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A video posted by Michelle Carter (@shotdiva) on Aug 12, 2016 at 9:10pm PDT
"I just can't believe it – I'm just so excited," she said in an Instagram video after her win. "I'm so happy."
"I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to everybody who have supported me along the way," she continued. "Who have prayed for me and given me all sorts of words of positivity and encouragement. I really appreciate it. Go Team U.S.A!"
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Michelle is the 2016 world indoor champion as well. She goes by the nickname the "Shot Diva."
In addition to her Olympic career, she's also a professional makeup artist.
