Stone, a London-born Australian policewoman, created a stir by leading the qualifiers with a personal best of 67.72 and proved that was no fluke by pressurising the favourite, Hattestad, throughout the final. The Norwegian, champion in 1993 and pregnant at the time of the 1995 Championships, opened strongly with 68.78 and that proved to be the winner but Stone drew uncomfortably close in the second round with 68.16 and her last two throws landed at 68.64 and 68.60. The bronze medallist Damaske excelled also, throwing a personal best of 67.12 in the final round, but Olympic Champion Rantanen suffered an off-day in tenth place. “I was given strength by the knowledge that my two sons were watching from the stands,” said Hattestad.