Defending his turf - Andeas Thorkildsen wins in Oslo (© Mark Shearman)
While the international circuit is taking a brief break, there is no rest for Samsung Diamond League Ambassador Andreas Thorkildsen. Norway's Olympic and World champion in the Javelin Throw has an important appointment to keep in Barcelona this week where he'll be out to defend his European title.
"Hello everyone,
"The European Championships is almost here! I am writing this before setting out to Barcelona. Most of the Norwegian team are out there already, but as we’re already in the same time zone as Spain I’ll be getting there two days before my event starts. I usually arrive at grand prix events just one day before, so I’ll have an extra day compared to normal competitions. I have had my last few pre-championship training sessions and all is good.
"My season so far has been going great and this month I won in Lausanne and Paris. Fortunately I’ve performed well in all of my Samsung Diamond League meets this year and my worst throw in the series has been 86.00m, so I’m really pleased with my consistency. If I win in Stockholm, then I will win the overall javelin title in the Samsung Diamond League. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be complacent in my last few competitions of the year – every time I step on the track I always want to win, regardless of what point in the season it is.
"Right now it’s the peak of the season and the big focus is of course the European Championships. Once I get to Barcelona I’ll start to get the feeling you get when you’re at a championships – the atmosphere, the buzz, the spectators, and everything else you see when walking around. That’s when I’ll really feel the urge to get out there and compete. Whether it’s the Olympics, the Worlds or the Europeans, I approach all championships in the same way; it’s still very important to me that I do my best to win.
"My throwing has been going really well recently so I’m feeling confident that I will defend my title. I think it will take something in the region of 88 metres to win and this year I’ve been consistent around that mark. For now I just can’t wait to get there and throw in that magnificent stadium. Hopefully this time next month I’ll be reporting back here with a gold medal around my neck. Wish me luck!"
Andreas
"Hello everyone,
"The European Championships is almost here! I am writing this before setting out to Barcelona. Most of the Norwegian team are out there already, but as we’re already in the same time zone as Spain I’ll be getting there two days before my event starts. I usually arrive at grand prix events just one day before, so I’ll have an extra day compared to normal competitions. I have had my last few pre-championship training sessions and all is good.
"My season so far has been going great and this month I won in Lausanne and Paris. Fortunately I’ve performed well in all of my Samsung Diamond League meets this year and my worst throw in the series has been 86.00m, so I’m really pleased with my consistency. If I win in Stockholm, then I will win the overall javelin title in the Samsung Diamond League. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be complacent in my last few competitions of the year – every time I step on the track I always want to win, regardless of what point in the season it is.
"Right now it’s the peak of the season and the big focus is of course the European Championships. Once I get to Barcelona I’ll start to get the feeling you get when you’re at a championships – the atmosphere, the buzz, the spectators, and everything else you see when walking around. That’s when I’ll really feel the urge to get out there and compete. Whether it’s the Olympics, the Worlds or the Europeans, I approach all championships in the same way; it’s still very important to me that I do my best to win.
"My throwing has been going really well recently so I’m feeling confident that I will defend my title. I think it will take something in the region of 88 metres to win and this year I’ve been consistent around that mark. For now I just can’t wait to get there and throw in that magnificent stadium. Hopefully this time next month I’ll be reporting back here with a gold medal around my neck. Wish me luck!"
Andreas
