Andreas Thorkildsen and Jan Zelezny in Oslo, 14 May 2009 (© Digitalsport AS Norway)
Yesterday afternoon at Oslo’s famous Bislett Stadium two of the all-time greats of men’s Javelin Throwing met to promote this year’s edition of the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, which takes place on Friday 3 July, the second of this year’s six meetings of the ÅF Golden League.
The now retired but still current holder of the World record for the event Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic was in Oslo to meet Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen. Combined they have five Olympic gold medals.
Thorkildsen took the Olympic record off the Czech when he successfully defended his Olympic title in Beijing. The World record, however, remains a more distant prospect, as it is 98.48m – 6.89 longer than Thorkildsen’s personal best.
Zelezny is a three-times gold medallist at the Olympics, a feat he also achieved in the World Championships, while Andreas Thorkilsen, the Olympic winner in 2004 and 2008 has still to achieve that prize having come second in both the 2005 and 2007 World Champs. His PB of 91.59m ranks him 6th on the all-time world list.
“I have very good memories from Bislett stadium,” confirmed Zelezny, “especially from the two times I sat a new World record here (90 and 92). Especially the record in 1992 before the Olympics in Barcelona was great.”
“I am a coach now and still follow javelin closely as one of my athletes also competed in Beijing. I am sometimes more nervous now when I am sitting watching my athletes than when I competed myself. Then I was focused and knew what to work on, while when I am watching my athletes I can't do anything.”
“Andreas is still young (27), and at the same time he has lots of experience. I think he still can improve. The main focus must be to stay healthy and to keep the motivation high. As long as he can avoid injuries he will be able to improve for the next years.”
“We have very different technique, it is hard to compare. Andreas is taller and stronger than I was, but I was faster,” concluded Zelezny.
Thorkildsen is fit and ready for the 2009 season which he began in Doha on 8 May with an 83.39m victory.
“I have been training well this winter,” confirmed Thorkildsen. “In the physical training I think we have reached the highest level, but I can still improve my technique. It is a balance between pushing the limits and avoiding injuries.”
“Until Athens 2004 I never did very well in championships, but after the gold there I have gone into major competitions with confidence, and often done my best on those occasions.”
“Breaking the World record is a dream. Jan was 30 when he threw 98.48, I still have 3 years to work on that! He was already a legend and one of my favourite throwers. The first time we threw in the same competition at Bislett I asked for his autograph.”
“My main goal this season is the World Championships in Berlin in August,” concluded Thorkildsen.
Anne Kullebund for the IAAF
