Athletics: Vili's effort confirms she's the best

Valerie Vili showed the poise of a true champion in coming from behind to retain her world shot put title yesterday.

The 24-year-old becomes the third athlete to win back-to-back titles, joining Zhihong Huang of China and Astrid Kumbernuss of Germany.

It is usually Vili who rocks the field with her first-round effort, but with three Germans in the final and the stadium full of a vocal and parochial crowd, Nadine Kleinert set down the gauntlet with an opening throw of 20.06m. Vili was out to 19.40m and was back in fourth place at the end of the round.

Vili was not happy with her second-round throw and put her foot on the barrier board at the front of the circle to indicate a foul. With her trademark blue towel around her neck she paced patiently for her next attempt.

Vili's first big throw came in round three with a put of 20.25m to take the lead by 5cm from Kleinert, who was out to a personal best third-round throw of 20.20m.

Vili finally hit her straps, hoisting out a formidable 20.44m in round five to further consolidate her lead.

Her winning throw was short of her recent New Zealand record and world-leading performance this year of 20.69m in Brazil.

"I got off to a slow start out there, I knew Nadine was always going to be at full swing because it was a home crowd for her," Vili said.

"I like competition and I like the way she pushed me out there. To come out here and compete at world champs and for someone to push me like that is awesome for me, the sport and the event. "Two titles under my belt ... I'm pretty happy about that.

"There is a bit more pressure when you are the defending champion, you are wearing this gold bib so everyone knows you are the defending champion and there is almost another pressure on you to try and get out there and defend it."

Vili said that she was definitely looking for a bigger throw than her winning effort.

"You do what you can to win, so tonight I wasn't able to achieve what I wanted to throw but I achieved the title.

"So that's got to be good for me, that's got to be good for my country, for my people and for my family," she added.

After winning everything it is possible to win in her event - a world youth, junior and now two senior titles as well as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medals - Vili said she would continue in the sport for as long as she keeps enjoying it.

"I'm enjoying it, I enjoy what I do. I go out to compete and have fun. The day I wake up and not enjoy it, that's the day I'll hang my shoes up.

"For the moment, I'm loving it."

Vili paid tribute to her coach, Kirsten Hellier.

"We've been a partnership for 11 years, she is the pilot of our plane. She's a woman and there are not a lot of women coaches, you just have to look up in the stands."