Kiwi shot putter Tom Walsh has taken world indoor bronze at Belgrade, as world recordholder and Olympic champion Ryan Crouser suffered rare defeat.
Taking an early lead with a new season best of 22.29m, Walsh was surpassed by Crouser on the very next throw, but both were topped by Brazilian Darlan Romani in the third round, throwing a new championship record of 22.53m.
Walsh unleashed 22.31m - a new Oceania record - with his final effort, but had to settle for third. The result continues his consistent record under the roof, where he has won two gold and two bronze medals over the past eight years.
After finishing fourth at Tokyo last year, Romani had achieved a career highlight performance.
"I always hold myself in high regard for always showing up at major championships and I've done that for 7-8 years now," says Walsh. "It is great to get a season's best out and know I've still got it.
"Today I threw the same distance as I did when I won this title four years ago, so that shows men's shot put has come on leaps and bounds. If you don't go with it, you get left behind.
"I know I'm a better thrower and a better athlete than four years ago, and it is now about me and my team figuring out how to throw even further."
Meanwhile, Kiwi pole vaulter Olivia McTaggart cleared 4.60m on her last attempt to finish sixth, after arriving late in Serbia and forced to compete on unfamiliar poles, after airlines could not carry hers to the event.
"Competing here was completely on another level to any other competition I've been at and I was nervous coming in, feeling I might not belong here," she says. "But I had been given an invite, so to come away with sixth against girls I've looked up to for years was an awesome experience.
"I just wanted to make people back home very proud of me and I think I've done that."
