Michelle Carter made history a few weeks ago, as the first American woman since 1960 to win an Olympic medal in shot put. The Red Oak native didn’t just win any medal, though – she won gold.
Carter’s final throw of the night was also her personal best, lobbing the shot 20.63 meters (67 feet, 8.25 inches). She says she didn’t do anything differently to prepare.
“I just gave it my all and tried to leave nothing in the ring,” she says. “My dad was right there – and he’s my coach, he has the silver medal in the 1984 Olympics – so of course he’s telling me to just go for it. And I went for it.”
What you’ll hear in this segment:
– How she got into shot-putting, and the legacy of her father’s 1984 silver medal win
– Why it’s been difficult for Americans to medal in the event
– What Carter’s next steps are after the Olympics
