EIGHT years ago she was a 21-year-old rising star named Dani Samuels who stunned the world to win the world title.
At this year’s London world championships she was Dani Stevens, the consistent veteran who produced a career best throw to claim a silver medal.
The reigning Commonwealth champion has had the most consistent season of her career and it paid off with her second world championships medal.
Stevens set a new Australian record with her final throw in the competition of 69.64m, surpassing Daniela Costian’s record of 68.72m which had stood since the 1994 Auckland Commonwealth Games.
Dani Stevens smashed her personal best to win silver in the Women’s Discus final during day ten of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships.Source:Getty Images
Her previous best was 67.99m which she threw in Germany in 2014.
Unfortunately for Stevens, who married former shot putter Joe Stevens after the Rio Olympics where she finished fourth, she is up against one of the greatest throwers in history.
Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic has won the past two Olympic titles and with a throw of 70.31m she secured her second world title.
Fittingly, Steven’s good friend Sally Pearson, who is Australia’s only other medallist at the championships, was in the crowd to celebrate her roommate’s big moment.
A personal best in the men’s 20km walk still wasn’t enough for Dane Bird-Smith to repeat his medal winning effort from Rio last year.
Sandra Perkovic of Croatia, gold, and Dani Stevens of Australia, silver, celebrate after the Women’s Discus final.Source:Getty Images
The Brisbane walker finished sixth in a career best 1hr19.28sec but he was 35 seconds behind world champion Colombia’s Eider Arevalo.
Bird-Smith, who won the bronze medal at last year’s Olympic Games, cramped over the final stages of the race.
“Mixed emotions here,” he said. “It’s a massive PB, it’s my best placing at a world champs, it just wasn’t the race I was expecting to have.
“I just couldn’t find the rhythm. I was a target in that pack. First lap and these guys were there to cut me off and keep me out the water stations, that kind of stuff.
(From left) France’s Kevin Campion, China’s Wang Kaihua, Japan’s Isamu Fujisawa, Spain’s Alvaro Martin, Russia’s Sergei Shirobokov and Australia’s Dane Bird-Smith compete in the men’s 20-kilometre race walk.Source:AP
“It’s tactics in a race and I had to hold my own but it definitely breaks up the rhythm of the race and breaks up how you race in your own tempo.
“I can’t be disappointed with sixth in a PB but it wasn’t the race I wanted to race and I am a bit disappointed in that.
“I had a lot more to give and I could have raced it better on my own, but I was influenced by what the other guys were doing around the track.”
In women’s 20km event Regan Lamble was the first Australian home in 21st from Beki Smith (38th) and Claire Tallent (43rd).
Originally published as Stevens spins into silver for Australia
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