Vadims Vasilevskis of Latvia wins the javelin (© Getty Images)
2004 Olympic silver medallist Vadims Vasilevskis was the man of the day in the men’s Javelin Throw securing the win with his opener 85.62 which he then backed up with a last round 86.65 season’s best to seal a below-par competition here in Stuttgart.
Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen took second with a first round effort 83.77 which proved to be his only throw of the day, the Norwegian opting to pass his remaining three throws conscious of not worsening a light groin injury sustained in Brussels just over a week ago.
World champion Tero Pitkamaki was the next best thrower of the day although his 81.64 opener was more than six metres off his season’s best throw. The Finnish record holder seemed to struggle with the chilly conditions in the Mercedes Benz Arena failing to challenge for a title which he made his with a mighty 88.19 last year.
The only other 80 metre thrower of today was Latvia’s Eriks Rags whose 80.78 last round effort was an improvement on his opening 80.12, eventually good enough for fourth.
Clearly, Vasilevskis who was a disappointing ninth at the Beijing Olympic Games last month, was in a different class altogether today his series of 85.62; 83.59; 85.47 and 86.65 including the three best marks of the entire competition.
“Winning today was very important for me because I wanted revenge from the Olympic Games. The result in Beijing was very bad for me and I was very sad and disappointed. I need to get stronger psychologically. I would need more competitions now to continue improving but unfortunately this was my last meeting in 2008,” said the winner.
Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
