Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway competes in the men's javelin final (© Getty Images)
Oslo, NorwayIn 2012 Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen will have just one focus: to retain his Olympic gold medal in the Javelin Throw and therefore achieve "legendary" status by winning three consecutive Olympic titles.
Although his motivation is London, Thorkildsen will want a bold showing at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games - Samsung Diamond League on Thursday (7) to reaffirm his confidence for later in the year. After a purposely slow start to his competitive season, Thorkildsen showed recently in Ostrava that he is rounding into very good form and that really big throws are imminent. In the past one of the venues where he has excelled is at Oslo’s Bislett stadium where he recorded his personal best throw of 91.59m.
However as in all disciplines in the Samsung Diamond League, there are no easy victories and Thorkildsen will face the challenge of a typically powerful field of throwers headed by the reigning World champion Matthias De Zordo of Germany. In 2010 at the European Championships De Zordo was truly competitive and pushed Thorkildsen all the way. Twelve months later at the World Championships in Daegu the German was unstoppable and secured gold with a throw of 86.27m. Although dealing with some injury problems, the left hander is a fearsome competitor and someone that Thorkildsen must deal with not only in Oslo but also in London.
Also challenging in Oslo will be the consistent Czech Vitezslav Vesely, the winner in Shanghai and Ostrava; the surprise world leader Stuart Farquhar of New Zealand; and former World champion Tero Pitkamaki of Finland.
Thorkildsen may feel "at home" in Oslo but there are many athletes who also crave what he desires: winning in Oslo and later a victory in London.
Organisers for the IAAF
Although his motivation is London, Thorkildsen will want a bold showing at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games - Samsung Diamond League on Thursday (7) to reaffirm his confidence for later in the year. After a purposely slow start to his competitive season, Thorkildsen showed recently in Ostrava that he is rounding into very good form and that really big throws are imminent. In the past one of the venues where he has excelled is at Oslo’s Bislett stadium where he recorded his personal best throw of 91.59m.
However as in all disciplines in the Samsung Diamond League, there are no easy victories and Thorkildsen will face the challenge of a typically powerful field of throwers headed by the reigning World champion Matthias De Zordo of Germany. In 2010 at the European Championships De Zordo was truly competitive and pushed Thorkildsen all the way. Twelve months later at the World Championships in Daegu the German was unstoppable and secured gold with a throw of 86.27m. Although dealing with some injury problems, the left hander is a fearsome competitor and someone that Thorkildsen must deal with not only in Oslo but also in London.
Also challenging in Oslo will be the consistent Czech Vitezslav Vesely, the winner in Shanghai and Ostrava; the surprise world leader Stuart Farquhar of New Zealand; and former World champion Tero Pitkamaki of Finland.
Thorkildsen may feel "at home" in Oslo but there are many athletes who also crave what he desires: winning in Oslo and later a victory in London.
Organisers for the IAAF
