New Zealand's Valerie Adams won a record fourth women's shot put world title at the world athletics championships on Monday.

The 28-year-old two-time Olympic champion threw a best of 20.88 meters, while Germany's Christina Schwanitz took silver with a personal best of 20.41m.

China's Olympic bronze medalist Gong Lijiao had to again settle for third at a major championships with a throw of 19.95m.