For years we\u2019ve known that Michelle Carter inherited and refined a talent to put the shot into distant zones entered only by the elite. In fact, her future father, Michael Carter, as a prep in 1979, unleashed a rocket still unchallenged \u2013 81-3 \u00bd with a 12-pound shot \u2013 and difficult to fathom, even by those who stood nearby, as did I in my capacity as a newspaper correspondent. <\/p>\n
\tLast night, on TV, I was watching the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and thought, \u201cMichelle is the best American putter but just not quite powerful enough to beat her nemesis,\u201d two-time defending gold medalist Valerie Adams of New Zealand, who, going into the final round, led with a put of 67 feet, almost twenty-one inches ahead of Michelle.<\/p>\n
\tAs her father did two generations ago, Michelle gathered herself for a final Herculean effort, and launched the 8.8-pound women\u2019s shot higher and further than she ever had, a magnificent 67-8 \u00bc. Valerie Adams, six-foot-four and muscular and technically proficient, still had her final put. She concentrated and crouched and exploded across the rink, and her shot rose and flew far and crossed the elite line but landed short of the leading mark. <\/p>\n
\tMichelle Carter celebrated not merely her gold medal but also assumption of family supremacy since Michael merely won a silver medal, with a 16-pound shot, in the 1984 Olympics. He also starred on three Super Bowl champions with the San Francisco 49ers. When size, strength, and skill are needed, Michael and Michelle Carter should at once be summoned.<\/p>\n