Tatyana Lysenko (RUS) (© Getty Images)
Just under six years since Romania Mihaela Melinte established the last of her series of World records with a throw of 76.07m in Rüdlingen on 29 August 1999, Tatyana Lysenko, the new Russian sensation of women’s Hammer Throwing blew that old global standard apart in Moscow on Friday (15 July) with a mighty heave of 77.06m.
The performance by the 21 year-old came at the Vladimir Kuts Memorial meeting in the Russian capital, and was a sixth round effort.
Lysenko (Born 3 Oct 1983) was in the Russian squad for Athens Olympics but did not make it out of the qualification round with a best of just 66.82m. She has been the revelation of the throwing world this summer, having first set a national record of 75.95m in Moscow on 29 June, a distance which she equalled at the national championships last week in Tula (13 July), and now has come Friday’s performance. And this all from an athlete who began this year with a personal best of 71.54m!
But Lysenko’s performance on Friday is even more convincing when her full series is viewed, as all her efforts were above 74m – with the exception of a fifth round foul – and her third round release had already improved upon her own national record with the implement setting down at 76.05m.
Lysenko’s full series - 74.20; 74.39; 76.05 NR; 75.81; X; 77.06 WR
As the IAAF World Ranked 17th best athlete for the Hammer Throw, the Russian's rise to the World record can be described as nothing other than meteoric, and she of course now stands as the outstanding favourite to win next months World title in Helsinki.
IAAF
