Each finalist was allowed three throws in last round, with the top eight athletes after that point being given three further attempts.

Those three throws held up until Dani Samuels displaced Müller near the end of the round.

In the third round, world champion Denia Caballero moved into silver position with her best 65.34 m. Two throws later, Sandra Perković lander her only legal throw of the competition 69.21 m (227 ft 0 in) to leapfrog from the brink of elimination to gold.

The medal positions were set, but on her fifth round throw Robert-Michon, improved her mark to 66.73 m, a new French record.

Prior to the competition[update], the existing World and Olympic records were as follows.