Last updated on .From the section Olympics

Sara Kolak was out of action for 15 months after shoulder surgery in late 2014

Croatia's Sara Kolak won Olympic gold in the women's javelin just a few months after her return to competition from a long-term injury.

Kolak, 21, threw a personal best 66.18m edging out South Africa's Sunette Viljoen, who managed 64.92m.

Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic won gold in 2012 and was the favourite but had to settle for bronze after a best throw of 64.80m.

Kolak was sidelined for 15 months after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2014.

Her victory was Croatia's second athletics gold - and fifth overall - at Rio 2016 after Sandra Perkovic retained her Olympic discus title on Tuesday.

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