Breaux Greer sets a new American record in Carson (© Kirby Lee)
Largely due to the exploits of Jan Zelezny, we have become accustomed to the men’s Javelin Throw providing some of the greatest infield action during the previous ten editions of the World Championships in Athletics. Now with the peerless Czech spearman retired there is a small largely young group of highly talented throwers fighting to prove their worth as his successor, and Osaka 2007 provides the latest opportunity for a 90m throwing joust.
ALL 90m throw men are in town
In an event where contenders have historically been at their best in their late 20s and early 30s, three ‘youngsters’ Tero Pitkämäki (FIN, 24yrs – 91.53m), Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR, 25yrs – 91.59m), and Vadims Vasilevskis (LAT, 25yrs – 90.73m), will face the more experienced Breaux Greer (USA, 30yrs – 91.29m), and Sergey Makarov (RUS, 34yrs – 92.61m).
Eleven men have thrown over 90m with the ‘new spear’ since it first came into operation in 1986 (albeit there have been a number of modifications to the specification since), and all five of the existing 90m+club will take to the stage this coming weekend at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics.**see note
Defending champion Andrus Värnik (EST, 29yrs – 87.23m) is also entered to defend his title, but illness and injury have meant that the Estonian has been on and off countless start lists in the last few years so that nothing can be certain until we see Värnik actually take to the runway on Friday (31 Aug) morning for the qualification round.
In Helsinki 2005, Värnik sprang the greatest of surprises in the home of javelin throwing when he took the gold on one of the stormiest days of weather ever remembered at a major championship. Whatever the elements throw at the athletes in Sunday’s final in Osaka (2 Sep) - and rain is predicted - the only true surprise would be if there wasn’t at least one 90m performance.
“Right now in history, this is the strongest the event has ever been,” confirmed Greer, who is this season’s world leader with an American record of 91.29m. “I’m really excited about this championship. With Tero, Thork, you’re going to see something before you’ve never seen at this meet. So I hope you all really stay tuned until the last day because that is when the magic is going to happen.”
“Everybody’s going to be watching and thinking, wow these are such great performances, but when the javelin comes have your cameras ready because it’s going to be ridiculous out there. Just wait,” confirms the ever lively, upbeat Greer.
Greer is ever the showman, ask him what he wants to be after he finishes his career, and you’ll get the immediate response, “a film star!” Then a short pause follows and with immaculate timing he delivers the punch which is set to catch most interviewers off their guard – “a PORN star!”
Nothing that Greer ever says can be taken at face value but in a land largely unaware of javelin throwing - in many USA states the event is even banned for health and safety reasons - he knows the sort of comment which will get him press attention.
Olympic and European champion Thorkildsen hangs out a lot with Greer on the circuit, and along with Pitkämäki, they are a marketing agency’s dream. A photogenic trio, who Greer is of course happy to confirm are ‘sex magnets’…yes the show goes on. More tongue in cheek from the American but there is no doubting the seriousness of his competitive resolve.
Always battling injuries
Few remember that in the Athens Olympics Greer was the best qualifier to the final, only for his injured body to let down his aspirations when it came to the night itself. Greer ended up dead last and there is no doubting he has one very big ghost to bury. He has all the motivation required to take a World crown, and with his link-up with ex-Finnish national coach Kari Ilhalainen, who is now based in the US, he has all the technical back-up required to deliver.
Thorkildsen like Greer acknowledges the biggest battle is fitness. “Staying healthy is one of the most important parts of the javelin, being able to cope with injury, because in this event everybody’s always injured. It’s a matter of dealing with, or adapting to your injury. I’ve had a couple of ankle surgeries, now I’ve got a couple of slipped discs in my back. It’s always something. That’s one of the biggest challenges of Javelin. If we were able to stay healthy we’d have better results.”
Pitkämäki, the European silver medallist, along with two talented and even younger compatriots, Tero Järvenpää and Teemu Wirkkala, comes to the World Championships as does every top Finnish thrower in each generation with the passionate hopes of 5 million spear throwing mad countrymen resting on their shoulders. The tradition is deep with three World titles and seven Olympic golds already in the trophy cabinet for Finland’s male throwers. If the national TV norm is repeated in Finland this weekend over a quarter of the population will be tuned in live to watch both the qualification round and the final!
After one and half weeks in the Finnish preparation camp in Malugame, some 200km away from Osaka, Pitkämäki confirmed that “I’m in good shape, happy and ready to throw far. A medal and of course the gold is my aim but my other goal is to throw over 90m here.”
With the disappointment of fourth place in Helsinki two years ago and tragic spear incident at the Rome Golden League meeting this summer, Pitkämäki’s coach Hannu Kangas believes that even with the usual national expectations on his pupil’s back that “Tero has learnt a lot from dealing with pressure through such incidents, and is calm and confident after spending a good spell in Malugame and is acclimatized to the weather.”
Vasilevskis is the possible dark horse of the current 90m pack. The Olympic silver medallist, the Latvian crept up from no where to snatch that award in 2004, and of the quartet of youngsters he has been least highlighted as a contender despite the fact that in the last two seasons he has thrown 90.43 and 90.73.
And never discount the senior man either. Sergey Markov, the 2003 World champion and twice Olympic bronze medallist, also snatched the third spot on the podium in Helsinki.
Whatever the outcome on Sunday, as Thorkildsen confirms, “it’s very relaxed on the track. We’re on the field for 1.5 hrs and you only have six throws. There’s a lot of down time and then we just walk around, talk to the others, and have fun.”
The highest sporting entertainment is also guaranteed for all those who tune in this weekend for the 90m magic spear show!
Chris Turner
IAAF Editorial Manager
NOTE: Kostadinos Gatsioudis of Greece, 33yrs (91.69m) tried to make a come back last year after many seasons of persistent injury. He has not retired but can't really be counted as an active member of the 90m club.
