¡¡ATHENS, August 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Yuriy Bilonog of Ukraine admitted that Adam Nelson of the United States was very tough to beat and he felt so happy that he managed to win the men's shot put gold medal on his last throw.

    After winning the gold with a 21.16m toss at the Ancient Stadium of Olympia, Bilonog said at the press conference, "the competition was tough, Adam is really a fighter and we competed well. It's a great honour for me to compete here. I feel great andhappy."

    In today's battle, Nelson also tossed 21.16 meters, but he had to settle for the silver because Bilonog owned a better second best performance.

    Joachim Olsen of Denmark took the bronze with a 21.07 push.

    Nelson opened strongly at 21.16m, but Bilonog, whose personal best is 21.14, answered immediately with a 21.15 toss in the first round.

    The 30-year-old Bilonog seemed in a hot form, hitting the ball at 21.15m again in his second outing.

    John Godina of the United States, Sydney bronze medalist with apersonal best of 22.02m, failed to qualify for the final, only managing 20.19m.

    After the race, Nelson said, "I felt it was my day. And I felt it was my year. I really enjoyed the venue but I just did not perform today as well as I should have. I could not find my competitive rhythm so hat's off to Yuriy."

    The American added, "I can only blame myself for what happened today. I lost it and he won it. It is very hard to lose like this."

    Olsen said he was very pleased with what he had done today. "The atmosphere was great and the people were really into it."

    Godina, who only finished a distance ninth, said, "I really do not understand what happened today. I warmed up throwing 22.50's in the other ring, I really thought I had made the final, but theytold me I was out." Enditem