Reigning Olympic discus champion Valarie Allman reaffirmed her dominance, claiming Shanghai Diamond League win with a massive 70.08-meter throw.
The 28-year-old American star delivered her winning effort in the fifth round. This performance extends her unbeaten streak after a dominant show in Xiamen, where she won with a 68.95-meter throw.
Allman faced stiff competition from Netherlands’ rising star Jorinde Van Klinken, who took second place with a season-best 66.09 meters. Meanwhile, 2019 World Champion Cuba’s Yaime Pérez, rounded out the podium with a solid 65.00-meter throw.
Allman admitted that nerves played a role in her season opener.
“I feel so excited about this competition tonight,” Allman said after her win.
“In my first meet in Xiamen last week, my nerves got the better of me, but today I just knew I was going to go for it. To see 70 meters pop up gives me a lot of confidence and momentum.”
“I’m leaving China happy and excited to go home with a clear perspective on what these next few months need. I try not to think about the winning streak—I face my own nerves, whether it’s time zones or travel, and take it one meet at a time,” she added.
Allman’s rise to the top has been nothing short of spectacular. Since her gold medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics (68.98m), she has shattered records and redefined expectations in women’s discus.
In 2021, she set the American record (71.16m) in Berlin—a mark that remains the second-farthest throw globally in the last 30 years. With each competition, she inches closer to challenging the world record of 76.80m, set by East Germany’s Gabriele Reinsch in 1988.
As the Diamond League season heats up, all attention will focus on Allman, eager to see her surpass her personal best.
