UPDATED 12.58pm A bronze for Tom Walsh, our Kiwi shot putter, in the men's shot put final in Rio.

The Timaru builder threw 21.36m to clinch the third place.

USA took out the gold and silver with Ryan Crouser winning a new Olympic record with a best throw of 22.52m.

Fellow American Joe Kovacs threw 21.78m for silver.

Walsh's medal is the first men's shot put medal ever won for New Zealand.

It's our fifth Olympic medal for the day, and our 15th in Rio.

New Zealand shotputter Jacko Gill placed ninth, just missing out on joining the last round of throws for the medal contention.

Gill is revelling in Walsh’s success.

"It's amazing to see that. It's been an awesome competition to see Tom get the bronze. It's really awesome."