Think of a javelin champion and you will find him. At the Golden Gala, the men’s javelin throw will truly be a world final among top athletes.
The world No.1, American Breaux Greer is the only one to have thrown over 90 metres this year. During the US trials, Greer threw a sensational 91.29 and bettered his own American record. Despite his frequent injuries, this performance, which ranked him the ninth best all-time, has confirmed he is in top shape. Greer is the man to beat along with his friends and opponents, Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen and Finn Tero Pitkämäki.
Both have been dominating the discipline over the past years. Thorkildsen, reigning Olympic and European champion, will be looking for his best shape in order to claim the gold medal at the World Championships in Osaka, and to lower his PB of 91.59 set on Oslo in the Golden League circuit last year. Even if Pitkämäki has not obtained the great results of his opponent yet, he has always been able to throw very well with a personal best of 91.53 set in 2005. This season he is in great condition as he proved with the wins in Oslo and in Paris, the Golden League first and second leg. He is then one of the four jackpot contenders.
Winner in the Norwegian competition in 2005, Estonia’s Andreas Varnik will also be taking part in the Rome meeting next Friday, July 13. Other best all-time competitors competing in the event are the Russian Sergey Makarov with the highest personal best of 92,61 and Latvia’s Vadims Vasilevskis.
Photo: America's Breaux Greer at the 2006 Golden Gala.
