Summer reissue: Was it a false measurement, a full-blown conspiracy or just some mild incompetence? Mad Chapman uncovers the truth of Maddi Wesche’s final throw.

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First things first: Maddison-Lee Wesche is a hero and a legend. After placing sixth at the Tokyo Olympics, Wesche threw a lifetime best to win an Olympic silver medal in the women’s shot put this morning. She wasn’t expected to be on the podium based off her personal best and season’s best so to come out and throw better than you’ve ever thrown in your life (and in poor conditions at that) is an objectively baller move and I look forward to seeing her in Los Angeles in 2028.

At the same time, the shot put final delivered everything a spectator could wish for in a field event. Already all bets were off as the throwers were competing in the pouring rain, meaning a slick circle and no saying who would adjust to the conditions the best. Leading after three throws, Wesche was in pole position for the final three, able to throw last and respond to anyone who might take the lead from her.

And the lead was taken more than once. German thrower and favourite to win Yemsis Ogunyele took the lead with her fifth throw of 19.73m. Then Wesche responded with a PB of 19.86m to snatch it right back. With only two throws left in the whole event, Ogunyele threw a massive 20.00m with her final throw, taking the lead again. Wesche had the final throw of the competition mere moments later. She prepared her throw as Ogunyele was still weeping with joy on the track nearby.

And Wesche threw another massive one. So massive it landed very clearly beyond the white 20m tape and eerily close to Ogunyele’s final attempt. It looked like another PB and enough to take the lead and the gold medal back for the last time.

Then the measurement flashed on the screen as… 19.58m.

I’m sorry, what?

Let’s start from the beginning.

Here are the white tape marks in the shot put, indicating some key distances – in this case 18m and 20m. The white tape can move throughout the event, especially if shots land on it and roll over it, but generally an implement landing squarely on the tape would be within 10cm or so of the marker distance.

At the same time, for some reason the shot put in particular always has markers that feel misplaced.

Here is where Wesche’s early leading throw of 19.68m landed.

On first glance it looked a bit further than 19.68m, given how close it landed to the tape. So sure, perhaps a throw on or just past the 20m tape would not be measured as 20m but it’s not too far off.

And so it was proven when Ogunyele’s final throw landed here and was measured at exactly 20.00m.

So Wesche had her work cut out for her in her final throw. But she produced a big one, and again on first glance it looked to have landed comfortably beyond the 20m tape, even further than Ogunyele’s one.

There was a quick replay that still looked confusing, and for some reason, the man with the marker stick ran to stand just beyond the 20m tape.

All the New Zealand viewers at home were confused. It looked so much further than that, and even landing there it surely was further than 19.58m? The NZ Olympics Instagram post celebrating Wesche’s silver medal moments later was flooded with calls for a remeasure and mild conspiracy theories about the coverage, the lack of another replay and the man with the measuring tape.

I put on my investigator cap (read: recorded the TV with my phone) to figure out where exactly the throw landed.

The answer? We’ll never know.

Turns out, what we all saw at home was in fact the second bounce of Wesche’s throw, which was comfortably beyond the 20m tape and would’ve won the gold. Where was the first bounce? It was off-screen. Whoever was operating the camera at the shot put was too slow in panning and the shot flew out of frame in the moment it hit the ground.

This is the moment it hit the ground.

And here is where we all thought it hit the ground because this was the first time we saw it onscreen.

So you see? Sadly there was no conspiracy to overthrow Wesche’s lead nor was there gross incompetence from the man holding the measuring tape. Wesche’s reaction to her throw suggests she knew it wasn’t far enough, though she looked positively stoked with her performance regardless, as she should be.

Maddi Wesche threw a career best 19.86m to win a silver medal at the Olympics. Whoever was operating the camera and missed her final throw did not win a medal.

First published August 10, 2024.