Laulauga Tausaga-Collins has become the first USA Track and Field woman’s world champion in the discus.
Tausaga Collins, whose father is from Pago Pago, was born in Hawaii.
She finished last in the previous two world finals but came into the showdown with a best of 65.46 meters, but found 69.49 with her fifth throw before sprinting into the crowd to celebrate with her supporters.
Her teammate and Olympic champion Valeria Allman owned the top six throws of the season, the best of them almost three meters better than anyone else in the field.
Tausaga-Collins said afterwards she doesn’t know if she has a fairy godmother or her ancestors had some say in her surprise success.
Reuters reports Allman had a face like thunder at the end and said, “I wanted to be the champion tonight, it is not a secret.
“I have been training very hard, putting everything in for the victory. It’s tough when you are in a good form and you cannot reach the gold medal.
“But I feel so proud of being on the podium and a one-two for USA is also so special, to stand together with Laulauga.”
