Ponomaryova was expected to retain her title ahead of Beglyakova,
with Fikotová and Mertová likely to battle out for the bronze. Fikotová
led the qualifying with 50.77, but was fourth until the third round,
when she threw 52.04 to take the lead. Beglyakova immediately
responded with 52.54, and retained the lead from Fikotová until the
fifth round. The Czech threw 53.69 in the fifth round to become the
third-best thrower ever and win the gold, with Ponomaryova producing
her best in the same round, to edge Brown for the bronze medal. For
Fikotová, Melbourne was memorable not just for the gold medal, as
she met (and three months later married) Harold Connolly, winner of
the hammer. Ponomaryova had given Fikotová coaching tips in 1955,
and was visibly upset to see how good a job she had done.
Qualification> - Friday 23.11 10:00
Mark 42.00m. 13 Athletes passed the mark and advanced to Final.