Athletics-Japan's Kitaguchi takes javelin gold with her last throw

Athletics - World Athletics Championship - Women's Javelin Throw Final - National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary - August 25, 2023 Japan's Haruka Kitaguchi celebrates winning the final REUTERS/Marton Monus

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan won World Championships javelin gold with her last throw on Friday, breaking the heart of Colombia’s Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado who had been on course for a shock victory from the first round.

Ruiz Hurtado arrived in Budapest with a best of only 63.84 metres – and that was seven years ago – and had never remotely threatened the podium in previous global events.