Mikko Hirvonen
Tero Pitkämäki is the javelin world champion of 2007.
2 September, 2007Tero Pitkämäki takes gold at the World Championships. Well done, Tero!
Tero Pitkämäki overwhelmingly won the javelin world championship with the two longest throws on the final day in Osaka on Sunday. The previous time a Finnish javelin thrower won gold at the world championships was in 1999 in Sevilla. As this was Finland's only medal from the Osaka World Championships, it is especially precious.
Tero Pitkämäki's final did not have the best of starts as his first throw launched at a bad angle and landed at around 81 metres. After the second throw, 89.16 flashed up on the big screen, which was enough to hold off the challenge of Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen and Breaux Greer of the USA.
In the warm-ups, I made three technically good throws so it was easy to go to the stadium. I was really burning inside. My first throw was awful but I knew I still had it. After the second throw, I felt relieved but told myself not to count my chickens yet. I was really nervous when I watched the last throws of the other competitors.
With victory already secure, he still had time to throw 90.33 metres. Then it was time for the lap of honour, somewhat obstructed by the women's relay race final.
- I wanted the throw the last one, too, since the crowd, weather and atmosphere were so good, said Pitkämäki, whose 90.33 was the winning result.
- This feels incredible. We’ve been working towards this for a long time. It’s unbelievable. Such an emotional moment, he rejoiced.
- There have been setbacks, and moments of success in between. This was a great success, and I want enjoy it now, Pitkämäki continued.
Pitkämäki admitted that he had been depressed after the unsatisfactory qualifying rounds. On the day between the competitions, he had time to strike the correct balance between aggression and relaxation for the final.
- We looked through the qualifying rounds with my coaches and noticed some details that we could work on, Pitkämäki said.
Before the World Championships and during the qualifying rounds throws that were too high caused problems.
- In the final, too, my throws were maybe too high, but they also went forward. The release angle was not as steep as in the throws I made during the qualifying rounds, he remarked.
Already by the age of ten, Pitkämäki dreamed of being a winner in a high-ranking competition. Along the way, many things have happened, but in Osaka everything fell into place.
- I have had hardships this year, too. After such experiences success feels even better, Pitkämäki said, referring to the catastrophe in Rome, where his javelin struck the French long-jumper Salim Sdiri's side.
- I still feel confused. The thought that I am the javelin world champion hasn't had time to sink in yet. During the last throw I was able to enjoy it, as the gold was already in my hand, Pitkämäki said.
Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway was the second with 88.61, and Breaux Greer from the USA (86.21) was third.
Thorkildsen was disappointed because he was not able to give his best in the final. The Olympic winner and European champion had to settle for second with a throw of 88.61.
- I was really impressed with the way Tero threw after a disappointing performance in the qualifying round. He showed that he really is a strong sportsman, the Norwegian praised.
Congratulations to the World Champion from the Ponsse Team!
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