The Taieri athlete threw a distance of 7.54m to claim bronze in the women’s shot put F34.
"I am very happy. It’s been a tough day, but I’ve enjoyed every moment of it," she told the Otago Daily Times from Rio.
"I loved being out there today. I love competing, it’s a good buzz."
Hamill (26) threw her best distance with her first attempt, shooting into third position and holding on to claim her medal by 2cm.
"It was a really good opener, I felt really good," she said.
"To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about [a medal] at the time. I was just trying to reach my personal goal which was to get a PB."
While she could not reach that personal best mark, the medal hanging around her neck at the end of the day left her more than happy.
Hamill admitted nerves crept in as she was given a stern challenge by Morocco’s Saida Amoudi.
Amoudi knocked on the door the whole way, managing 7.52m with her fifth throw.
"Yes I was nervous, it was very nerve-wracking at times," she said.
"But [it was] also exciting. Watching the others throw kind of amped me up for my turn. It was a long competition."
She had not yet spoken with her family, although she said they were watching from home and expected to be in contact soon.
The medal was Hamill’s second major success in as many years, having won the silver medal at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships.
China’s Lijuan Zou threw a world record 8.75m to win the event by a considerable distance over Lucyna Kornobys of Poland, who threw 8m.
It is turning into a successful Games for Otago.
Anna Grimaldi won a gold medal in the long jump, while javelin throwers Holly Robinson and Rory McSweeney claimed silver and bronze respectively.
New Zealand blade-runner Liam Malone qualified for the final of the 400m T44.
He will look to add to the gold and silver medals he claimed in the 200m and 100m respectively.
Scott Martlew qualified for the final of the canoe 200m KL3 in fourth position.
Emma Foy and Laura Thompson finished fourth in the women’s time trial BVI.
- Jeff Cheshire
Kiwis in action
Today
• Athletics
1.21am: men’s 400m T36 (William Stedman)
2.38am: men’s 400m T44 final (Liam Malone)
9.33am: women’s 200m T47 (Anna Grimaldi)
• Canoeing
1.10am: men’s 200m KL3 final (Scott Martlew)
• Sailing
4.30am: sonar race 7 (Chris Sharp/Andrew May/Richard Dodson)
6am: sonar race 8 (Chris Sharp/Andrew May/Richard Dodson)
• Swimming
12.30am: men’s 100m butterfly S9 (Jesse Reynolds), final at 8.30am
2.09am: women’s 100m freestyle S11 (Mary Fisher)
10.20am: women’s 100m freestyle S11
Saturday morning (until 8am)
• Athletics
1.15am: men’s 400m T36 final (William Stedman)
2.27am: women’s 200m T47 final (Anna Grimaldi)
• Cycling
12.30am: men’s road race C1-2-3 final (Fraser Sharp)
4am: men’s road race T1-2 final (Stephen Hills)
• Sailing
4.30am: sonar race 9 (Chris Sharp/Andrew May/Richard Dodson)
6am: sonar race 10 (Chris Sharp/Andrew May/Richard Dodson)
• Swimming
12.37am: women’s 100m freestyle S7 (Rebecca Dubber)
12.44am: men’s 100m backstroke S9 (Jesse Reynolds)
12.52am: women’s 100m backstroke S9 (Tupou Neiufi)
1.40am: women’s 200m IM SM11 (Mary Fisher)
2.07am: men’s 50m backstroke S5 (Cameron Leslie)