Does Valerie Adams think Michelle Carter is clean?
Valerie Adams has been presented with her silver medal at the official ceremony for the women's shot put today.
Adams was beaming when she was presented with the medal silver medal, alongside gold medalist Michelle Carter of the United States and bronze medalist Anita Marton of Hungary.
The Kiwi great was beaten into silver in sensational fashion, when Michelle Carter conjured a United States national record in the final round.
The two-time gold medallist had led throughout the competition after posting a season-best 20.42m in the second round.
Nobody in the 12-woman field went within half a metre of it until Carter stunned everybody at the Olympic Stadium with her 20.63m.
Adams had her final throw to claim a third successive gold - which no male or female Olympian has achieved - but came up 24cm short.
READ MORE: 'It would have been nice to win': Valerie Adams settles for silver
The Kiwi won gold at the Beijing and London Games - the latter after the original winner Nadzeya Ostapchuck was disqualified for steroid use.
Adams was asked today whether she thought there would be a repeat of London 2012, when Ostapchuk failed a drug test following her win.
"I don't think so. I mean hand on my heart I think this is a pretty legit competition," Adams told ONE News' Peter Williams.
"I don't so and I hope not for my sport and my event. I think we've been damaged enough for now so let's hope not."
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The New Zealander was as gracious as she was disappointed after Carter's bolt from the blue denied her a place in the Olympic history books.
The Beijing and London champion took the outcome on the chin, praising Carter for her response to pressure on the biggest stage.
"I guess a lot of people are looking for a reaction or something like that from me," Adams said.
"But to be honest, I'm happy. I'm disappointed at not winning but you can never under-estimate anyone, especially Michelle. She's capable of popping one out and that's the great thing about sport."
Until the dramatic finale, Adams turned the clock back to when she was in her prime and dominating the circle.
A steely expression throughout the hour-long competition seemed to affect her leading opponents, most of who were well below their best.
Carter wasn't sure where she summoned the energy for her last throw but always knew she was capable of such a distance.
"Who knows when it will come. Sometimes you can't predict these things. I'm pleased that it showed up today," she said.
"I still couldn't count out Valerie Adams. She's a great competitor and a great person."
Adams took less than a minute after Carter's giant effort to unleash her sixth and final throw.
The Kiwi explained she wanted to take advantage of a spike in adrenaline when she saw Carter's measurement flash on the screen.
"I guess it just pumped me up and I just had to live in that moment and I was ready to go.
"It was a decent throw but I knew it wasn't enough."
The 31-year-old's performance was still a triumph of sorts over adversity after undergoing operations on her elbow, shoulder and knee over the past two years.
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