Athletics at the 1960 Roma Summer Games:

The 1958 European Champion was Tamara Press (URS) and she was favored. But 1952 champion Nina Romashkova-Ponomaryova pulled an upset to win the gold medal. The finals matched four athletes who had or would win discus gold medals – Press, Ponomaryova-Romashkova, Czech-American Olga Fikotová (1956 gold medalist – 7th), and Romania’s Lia Manoliu (1968 gold medalist – bronze). Manoliu led in Roma with 52.36 (171-9½) in round one, but Ponomaryova-Romashkova took the lead for good in round two with 52.42 (171-11¾). She improved to 53.39 (175-2) in round three, and to 54.42 (178-6½) in the final round. Press did win the shot put in Roma and one week later, would break the discus throw world record with 57.15 (187-6) at a post-Olympic meet in Roma.