Spectacular javelin contest as Zelezny takes his
third Olympic title
Chris Turner for IAAF
23 September 2000 - A record breaking first round which saw seven men throw over 85 metres for the first time in Olympic history set the pattern for possibly the greatest ever Olympic javelin final and the crowning of yet another Olympic legend.
Finland’s 1999 world champion was the first to throw and set the standard with 86.62 metres and was followed by three time European champion Steve Backley of Britain with 86.25m. Then Czech world record holder Jan Zelezny upped the stakes with a marvellous 89.41 metre effort which in turn was followed by Russia’s European Cup winner Sergy Makarov who launched his spear to 88.67 metres - the eventual bronze medal. If that was not enough excitement, then Germany’s Raymond Hecht replied with 87.76m and world number one Konstas Gatsioudis of Greece was left to complete the party with 85.06 metres.
Yet if we thought the first round was special, then in terms of distance it was topped by rounds two and three with the lead first passing to Backley with 89.95m in the second round - his longest throw for eight years - and then in the third round, Zelezny - who was looking for his third consecutive Olympic gold - struck back with 90.17 metres, an Olympic record. It was also the first 90 metres throw in Olympic history with the "new" men’s javelin which was introduced in 1986.
Norway’s Paul Arne Fagernes will probably be one of the most disappointed men tonight as his best of 83.04 metres in the second round ranks as the longest non qualifying throw in major championship history.
There was no change to the lead in the remaining three rounds though in the fourth Germany’s Boris Henry moved up to 6th with 86.53m, only for Gatsioudis to counter in the next round with an 86.53 metre effort. The Greek’s throw showed just a glimmer of his magnificent early season form which had brought him a new personal best and the world lead of 91.69 metres.
The final had blown itself out in three spectacular rounds and there was nothing anyone could do to tear the Olympic title away from Zelezny and as if to emphasise his supremacy the Czech, who is now without a peer in the annals of javelin throwing history, unleashed one massive final effort of 88.97 metres to cap a marvellous evening of throwing, which left Backley in silver medal position with his second round throw of 89.85.
In winning a third consecutive gold medal, Jan Zelezny has achieved a feat unique in Olympic javelin history. Prior to tonight’s final Zelezny had shared the honour of winning two Olympic titles with Sweden’s Eric Lemming (1908 &1912) and Finland’s Jonni Myyra (1920 & 1924) but these were men competing in a much different era, let alone another millennium! Yet what makes his triple triumph even more significant is that had Finland’s Tapio Korjus not beaten Zelezny with his final throw in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Zelezny would now be in possession of four javelin golds.
There is no doubt that this inspired Czech master is now indisputably the world’s greatest ever javelin champion, greater even than Latvia’s Janis Lusis - four time European gold medallist and 1968 Olympic champion - and Finland’s Matti Jarvinen - double European champion, 1932 Olympic champion and ten times world record breaker.
