Tikhon takes his second title
Ivan Tikhon retained his World hammer crown in Helsinki this evening with a championships record throw of 83.89 after a tense tussle with his Belarussian team-mate Vadim Devyatovskiy who made up for finishing out of the medals at last summer’s Olympic Games by claiming the silver with a best of 82.60.
These two, the only throwers to get beyond 80 metres on a damp and chilly evening, swapped the lead four times throughout the final. Poland’s Szymon Ziolowski, the 2001 champion, took the bronze with 79.35.
Tikhon sent shock waves around the hammer-throwing world earlier this year when he missed the world record by just one centimetre. That mark, set by hammer legend Yuriy Sedykh, has stood for 19 years and at 86.74 had been considered virtually untouchable. Only Tikhon’s coach, 1983 and 1987 champion Sergey Litvinov, had ever come close.
Litvinov was in the crowd this evening watching as Tikhon battled it out for the gold. His nerves must have been on edge as Tikhon again put himself under unwanted pressure. As he had in the qualification competition on Saturday, he started by fouling his first two attempts. But, as on Saturday, he dug himself out of the hole when his third flew beyond 80 metres, his first 80-plus throw of the competition.
Only he and Devyatovskiy managed that feat tonight. But then, after a day’s heavy rain pounding on the circle, it was hardly a night for twirling around on your toes with a 16-pound weight on the end of a metal chain. Although the downpour had stopped by the start of the competition, a number of throwers wiped the throwing surface before each attempt and officials studiously swept away excess water between the rounds.
With a swirly wind as well, perhaps it was not surprising that the competition started slowly. Russia’s Ilya Konovalov led after a modest first round with 78.59, but Markus Esser was only two centimetres behind and it was the German who took the lead in the second round, with 79.11.
However, it wasn’t long before the first 80 metres throw, 80.45 from Devyatovskiy. That was warmly greeted by the shivering fans, although, inevitably, the loudest cheers were reserved for Finland’s Olli-Pekka Karjalainen. He started slowly, though, with 77.05 and a foul.
After his first two fouls Tikhon then took the lead from his compatriot with 80.97. It didn’t last for long, though, as Devyatovskiy responded with 82.60. It was becoming a battle of the Belarussians.
At the half way stage Devyatovskiy was first, Tikhon second, and Ziolkowski already in bronze medal position with a season’s best of 79.35. It was his best of the night.
Tikhon had now found his range, though, and he snatched the lead back in the fourth with 83.89. No one has ever thrown further at a World Championships, and it was only the third time anyone had gone beyond 83 metres at this level.
Surely Devyatovskiy couldn’t respond again. His fourth effort crashed into the barrier as he slipped on the greasy surface and although his fifth was again over 80 metres it landed at 80.47 – not far enough.
Karjalainen roused the crowd in the sixth round when he produced his best throw, 78.77, moving him up to fifth. When Ziolowski spun his final effort into the cage it was left to the big two.
Devyatovskiy gave Tikhon a pat on the shoulder as he went to the circle for the final time. He produced his third 80-plus throw, 81.52. Devyatovskiy went long again, his hammer hitting the soggy turf at 82.19 – his fourth over 80.
At last Tikhon allowed himself a smile; the gold his once more.
