Between Helsinki and Melbourne, Zybina broke the world record 12
times, with seven of those records ratified, and was favoured to win
after a 16.76 world record in October. Zybina opened with 16.35, and
led from her great rival Tyshkevich, who started with 16.13 and
improved to 16.32 in the third round. Zybina increased her lead in the
fifth round with 16.48 and finished off with 16.53, only to see her team-
mate overtake her with 16.59, improving her personal best by seven
centimetres in the process. Doynikova won the battle for bronze from
the surprising Val Sloper and big (1.75/114kg) but light footed Earlene
Brown. Tyshkevich – at 113kg some 3kg lighter than in 1952 – was the
heaviest-ever women’s Olympic athletics champion.