Two-time Olympic champion Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania defended his world discus title, winning on the final throw of the competition with a meet-record 70.17m. Gerd Kanter of Estonia was second at 68.57.
The meet's first world record was broken when Olympiada Ivanova of Russia won the 20km walk in 1:25:41. After maneuvering around the course through the streets of the city, Ivanova was handed a Russian flag as she entered Olympic Stadium. She wasn't sure she had crossed the finish line and continued for another half-lap before someone told her to stop.
Jamaica's Trecia Smith won the women's triple jump in a personal best 15.11. Yargelis Savigne of Cuba was second at 14.82. Defending champion Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia pulled out the final because of an Achilles' tendon injury. She had struggled to qualify 10th out of the 12 finalists.
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