John Godina 22.22m personal best in Carson (© Kirby Lee/The Sporting Image)
It is tricky to pick a favourite to win the title of World Shot Put champion, because this year, many throwers have reached well over 21 metres.
As always, one of the premier candidates is John Godina of the United States. He already has three World Championship wins, in 1995, 1997 and 2001. He started his season with an impressive 22.20m, his PB and the leading mark in the world this year. Later in the season a foot injury has given him some grief. In the US championships Godina was third with 20.99m. His experience and his consistent performances make him one of the favourites, and he may find extra motivation after the frustration of finishing only ninth in Olympics last year.
Another American is Christian Cantwell, who was in amazing form last year, but didn’t make it into the Olympic team. His start to the season was not that flashy, but in the summer months he repeatedly has obtained marks over 21 metres. His season best is 21.67m from Seville. At the US championships, he won with 21.64m.
The third American in Helsinki is Adam Nelson. He has won several medals from major championships, but so far he has always had to go home with nothing better than the silver. In the beginning of 2005 Nelson had a groin injury, but later he won at New York with 21.58m and took second place in the US championships with 21.52m. Nelson warmed up in a small meet at Lapua just before the Helsinki champs with a convincing 21.51m result.
New elite shot putters from Europe have emerged to threaten the Americans. Rutger Smith of the Netherlands was in top form in the indoor season with 21.00m and was second in the European Indoor championships. His best mark is 21.41m from July at Stadskanaal. German Ralf Bartels has been in good form throughout the season. His PB is 21.36m from July.
The European most likely to win a medal in Helsinki is probably Joachim Olsen of Denmark. Olsen is an experienced competitor, who took the bronze at the Olympics in Athens and gold at the European Indoor Championships this year. His best mark is 21.32m, and he has consistently reached 21.20m-21.30m.
Not much was heard from the defending World Champion, Andrey Mikhnevich of Belarus and the Olympic champion Yuriy Belonog of Ukraine until on the same day in early July (2), Mikhnevich reached his season best mark of 21.08m in Brest, as Belonog won in Kyiv with 20.76m.
Possible challengers in Helsinki include Croatia’s Edis Elkasevic with 20.94m and Khalid Habash Al-Suwaidi of Qatar, holder of a new Asian record of 20.54m.
There will be two Finns competing in the Shot Put. Ville Tiisanoja is a very experienced finalist at the major championships, and has been in consistent form this season. His season best is 20.49m. Tepa Reinikainen had knee surgery after the Olympics, but he is back in business with a season best mark of 20.38m.
Helsinki 2005 media team
