Virgilijus Alekna wins the World Athletics Final (© Getty Images)
Double World and Olympic Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania, now 34 years of age, who had claimed earlier in the season that only the thought of winning his first European championship was keeping his motivation going as an athlete, dispelled any concerns that he is harbouring serious thoughts of retirement.
After Alekna’s 68.63m World Athletics Final record in the third of four rounds secured today’s title ahead of Estonian World and European silver medallist Gerd Kanter’s 68.47m (73.38m PB earlier this week in Sweden), the Lithuanian confirmed, “I would like to remain on top for Osaka 2007 and Beijing 2008. We will see what happens after that!”
Alekna opened with 68.41m, and fouled his second. Kanter was nearly two metres back with his first throw (66.45m), and even when he produced 68.47 on the third release, the World, Olympic and European champion produced a better effort by 16cm.
It seems in the present context that Alekna is invincible but the man himself doesn’t seem quite so sure. "The Estonians (Kanter and Tammert – 3rd here 64.94) are both steadily improving while I feel like my form is not so good anymore. Next year they could beat me.”
Alekna has now won this Final on three occasions - 2003, 2005, 2006.
Chris Turner for the IAAF