Athletics at the 2004 Athina Summer Games:

The favorite was the 2000 bronze medalist, Osleidys Menéndez (CUB), who was the world record holder, had won the 2001 World Championships, and had recorded the six longest throws of 2004. She settled matters in round one with 71.53 (234-8¼) metres, missing her world record by a centimeter. German Steffi Nerius, bronze medalist at the 2003 Worlds, moved up from fourth place to a silver medal with her final throw. The bronze medal went to the consistent Mirela Maniani-Tzelili of Greece, who had won the 1999 and 2003 World title, and won medals at the last four World Championships. Her final round throw secured the bronze to the delight of the Athinan crowd. In 2005, Menéndez would again win the World title. The sixth-place finisher, Laverne Eve of the Bahamas, had won the 1984 Pan-American Junior title in the shot put, and was twice a silver medalist in the javelin at the Pan-American Games (1995 and 2003).