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Tero Pitkämäki, 2006

Last year Tero Pitkämäki rose like a rocket to join the world elite in javelin. Naturally, he had been working for years with his trainer Hannu Kangas. Tero was the best placed Finnish athlete at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 by finishing in eighth place. He has improved his results annually by 3-4 metres but the improvement from 2004 to 2005 was nearly seven metres. His personal best, 91.53 metres, was also the world’s best result over a period of three years, and the international media and public treated Pitkämäki like a superstar.

This season has stabilised Tero’s place in the world elite.His positions in championship competitions have gradually improved – 8th in 2004, 4th in 2005, 2nd in 2006.The objectives set for this season were very tough:winning a medal in the European Championships and improving on his own record to 95 metres. As we all know, he has already fulfilled his objective of taking a medal.His results have been steadier than ever.The best result has not been less than 85 metres in any competition – even in difficult conditions.However, he has not been able to achieve a technically perfect throw.His best result this season, 91.11 metres, is the second best in the world ranking. Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen, Tero’s close friend, is slightly ahead with 91.59 metres, although the situation in the international duel between Tero and Andreas is currently 3-3. Tero levelled the head-to-head score by winning the Golden League competition in Zurich.

At the beginning of the season in spring, Tero suffered from a slight side injury, which took away two weeks of full training. A tough sport always causes slight aches that are left unspoken. Currently, Tero feels he will be able to find the perfect throw during the summer, which would certainly result in an improved record throw. Physically Tero is in a good shape. The throw of more than 88 metres in Zurich was almost perfect. This was also admitted by Andreas during dinner after the event.

This summer, Tero will face four tough competitions: the Golden League in Brussels on Friday 25 August and the javelin competition in the Finland-Sweden duel in Helsinki on Saturday 26 August. Hopefully, Tero can do well in these two competitions. The final Golden League competition will take place in Berlin on Sunday 3 September and the athletics final (GP final) is up the following weekend in Stuttgart on 10 September. The main objective for 2007 is set for the World Championships in Osaka – keep in mind Tero’s result development in championship competitions... In 2008 Tero will be aiming at the Olympic gold medal in Beijing. However, there will be many wonderful moments before that; if Tero stays healthy – an important factor in any sport.