On Monday, German javelin thrower Johannes Vetter told a German newspaper Baden Online that the question of when he would “finally” reach a height of more than 90 meters was “annoying”.
Then, at the Spitzenleichtathlatik event in Lucerne, Switzerland yesterday, Vetter achieved what he dreamed of. Not just once, but four times the 24 year old thrower threw 90 meters. As if that weren’t enough, Vetter broke the two-month-old German record by half a meter with his throw of 94.44 metres.
In addition, his long throw ranks him second in the list of athletes with the longest throws in the world. So only world record holder Jan Zelezny is at the top of the list.
Vetter’s throws were 90.75, 91.06 and 93.06 before he went over 94 meters. This impressed former javelin thrower Trine Hattestad, who was pleased with the 24-year-old’s throw.
– This series is really raw. “It’s the second best in the world, so it’s very far,” Hattestad told NRK.
– There is still a lot to do
The world record is 98.48 meters, set 21 years ago. So Vetter’s throw was approximately four meters behind. That such a young javelin thrower is the closest to a record we must believe in Hattestad.
– His world record is very long, but what is clear is that he is now 24 years old and is very stable and has thrown many throws over 90 meters in one competition, he still has a lot to achieve, said Hattestad.
He wouldn’t be surprised if Vetter managed to sniff out the record, maybe not this year, but in a year or two.
Hattestad surrendered in the fall of 2000. He was then 34 years old, and it was then that he himself felt at his best. Hattestad assumes that the peak as a javelin thrower is between the ages of 28 and 32, because it takes time to reach the peak.
– Does Vetter have about four years left until the “golden” age?
– Yes of course. He still had many years ahead of him. He’s already very good, so it will be fun to follow him.
– Stable
According to Hattestad, it is difficult for women to reach a distance of more than 70 meters in the javelin throw, while it is difficult for men to reach a distance of more than 90 meters.
– Not many people do this in Norway, but sometimes there is someone who has something special about them and can manage it.
On August 5, the World Athletics Championships kicked off in London. With Vetter in top form, Hattestad warned it would be fun to follow the German. He thought he had done it right with his performance before the championships.
– You have to sit glued to the screen and follow it. His throw shows that he is technically stable and has a good chance of winning. It would be great to see if the world record is close to being achieved.
Published
12.07.2017, at 15.18
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