Slovenian field star Primoz Kozmus took first place in the hammer throw at the Beijing Olympics with a second round throw of 82.02 metres to bag Slovenia's first ever gold medal in Olympic track and field competitions and first gold in Beijing.
Kozmus, who led through the whole competition, beat Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan, both of Belarus, who threw 81.61 and 81.51 metres.
The 28-year-old threw the hammer over 80 metres in all of his six attempts, but his second throw was the best, landing at over 82 metres, despite veering to the left of the field and Kozmus shaking his head.
"The hammer escaped out of my hands because I lifted my right leg," Kozmus commented on his reaction after the second attempt.
"I performed the last throw for my soul," said Kozmus, who then already knew he had the gold in his hands.
Before the event he thought he might have to beat Slovenia's best of 82.30 metres, which he achieved last year in Polish Bydgoszcz. "I expected that towards the end when the opponents' results improved someone might beat me," said Kozmus.
Slovenia has now won a total of four medals in Beijing: one gold, one silver and two bronze, to tie the medal tally from Athens four years ago, when it won two silver and two bronze.
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