¶2012 OG: mJT–Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad) 277-6 (84.58) NR

[dj]

T&FN formchart advancers to final

1. Vítezslav Veselý (Czech Rep)
2. Oleksandr Pyatnytsya (Ukraine)
3. Andreas Thorkildsen (Norway)
4. Tero Pitkämäki (Finland)
5. Fatih Avan (Turkey)
6. Vadims Vasilevskis (Latvia)
7. Matthias de Zordo (Germany)
8. Ivan Zaytsev (Uzbekistan)
9. Ari Mannio (Finland)
10. Stuart Farquhar (New Zealand)

[EPelle]

Olympic Record: 90.57, Andreas Thorkildsen, NOR, Beijing 2008

2008 Results: G-Andreas Thorkildsen, NOR, 90.57OR; S-Ainārs Kovals, LAT, 86.64; B-Tero Pitkämäki, FIN, 86.16
================================================================================

[Per Andersen]

T&FN formchart

1. Vítezslav Veselý (Czech Rep)
2. Oleksandr Pyatnytsya (Ukraine)
3. Andreas Thorkildsen (Norway)
4. Tero Pitkämäki (Finland)
5. Fatih Avan (Turkey)
6. Vadims Vasilevskis (Latvia)
7. Matthias de Zordo (Germany)
8. Ivan Zaytsev (Uzbekistan)
9. Ari Mannio (Finland)
10. Stuart Farquhar (New Zealand)

The only pick for gold that makes any sense is Vesely. Too many known unknowns. No clue what kind of shape Thorkildsen and de Zordo are in.

[LopenUupunut]

The only pick for gold that makes any sense is Vesely. Too many known unknowns. No clue what kind of shape Thorkildsen and de Zordo are in.

But like you said yourself, even Veselý doesn't seem to be in his early shape anymore. I'm sure we'll see some of the top guys exit after the qualification... this is just as bad as the LJ.

[j-a-m]

Vesely 88.xx PB

[j-a-m]

de Zordo two fouls; not looking good, body language indicates he may not even go for the third attempt.

[j-a-m]

de Zordo does come back for his third attempt, but doesn't qualify, and clearly seems still hurt.

[Mighty Favog]

Whoda thunk this would be the Olympics where the USA beat Kenya's milers and Kenya beat USA's javelin throwers...

[Half Miler]

And Yego from Kenya makes the final!

Question (I don't know the answer):

Has a Kenyan athlete EVER made ANY field event final in a major championships?

[Alan Shank]

Whoda thunk this would be the Olympics where the USA beat Kenya's milers and Kenya beat USA's javelin throwers...

The latter part of that is no surprise at all. Since Breaux Greer, zilch.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[Half Miler]

Look, the surprise isn't that an American didn't make the final, it's that a Kenyan did!

[Randy Treadway]

Maybe this slipped under the radar....

none of the three Latvians made the final. This, the country of the great Janis Lusis, voted by the IAAF as the Greatest Javelin Thrower of All Time. (I guess that's GJTOAT ), and a traditional hotbed of javelin throwers.

Finland looks somewhat down too, but at least they'll have a shot in the finals.

[Per Andersen]

How about young Walcott from that well known Javelin hotbed Trinidad?

Latvia will be back. Don't worry about that. Amazing the people who have fallen by the wayside.

Thorkildsen considers himself totally healthy now. Was very happy with the 84+ throw in the Q-round. He usually struggles in that round. In that 84m throw he felt things were falling in place for the first time this season. He admits to being a rusty but is optimistic as he always is.

Norwegian journos can't let go with talk about 3 gold medal in a row. Again they asked what Thorkildsen thought about it. He just said he was aware that 3 is more than 2.

[Powell]

How about young Walcott from that well known Javelin hotbed Trinidad?

And Leslie Copeland of Fiji nearly made the final, too

[Powell]

Has a Kenyan athlete EVER made ANY field event final in a major championships?

They never have in any throwing event. But there's actually been an Olympic field final with TWO Kenyans in it.

[EPelle]

Look, the surprise isn't that an American didn't make the final, it's that a Kenyan did!

Yego has been flying under the public radar. However, he's been receiving a great deal of help along his journey to the Olympics, with professional training efforts in Sweden (under scholarship) and Finland along the way. That he could make the Olympic final was something he believed he could accomplish (and had been working hard toward). Excited to see that wish come true.

[26mi235]

Eric, I am very appreciative of your return to the board, at least for the Olympics. You bring the very nice combination of broad knowledge (augmented by searching for details) and a very unbiased manner.

[shivfan]

It's good to see Trinidadian Kershorn Walcott also qualified....

[Half Miler]

Eric, I am very appreciative of your return to the board, at least for the Olympics. You bring the very nice combination of broad knowledge (augmented by searching for details) and a very unbiased manner.

Seconded.

[Half Miler]

Has a Kenyan athlete EVER made ANY field event final in a major championships?

They never have in any throwing event. But there's actually been an Olympic field final with TWO Kenyans in it.

OK, the suspense is killing me!

I'd look this up myself, but I don't have any reference materials that list all field event finalists for the entire history of the OG. Maybe you can point me in the right direction. : )

[Powell]

Believe or not, two Kenyans made the HJ final in 1956.

[j-a-m]

It's good to see Trinidadian Kershorn Walcott also qualified....

NR for Walcott

[croflash]

Would be fitting if Walcott won a medal considering how the season in the JT unfolded.

[Jackaloupe]

Trinidadian Walcott's leading after 3 Rounds, 2 PRs in first two: 84.58/277'5"! Ukraine just moved into second, inches behind.

Vesely looked terrible on opener, isn't handling wind. Now both V. and Thorkildsen (sp?) are pressing. All the rest are stuck just over 80m. This could be a stunner though I expect V. to get it together.

It'll be fascinating to hear more of how the wind is working. [Gotta keep it low and aerodynamic; most are throwing too high and/or point up/tail down, a fatal flaw.]

[shivfan]

I am in the stadium and loving every minute of walcotts performance....

[Jackaloupe]

Que envidia (envy)! It was that Opener that did it: Put the pressure on the rest, who are not responding, in fact pressing, esp. V who seemed to have his upper body way ahead of plant. His distances are actually declining, barely over 80m. He could well come thru on this final throw, but doubtful.

[j-a-m]

Potentially two medalists from outside the formchart.

[j-a-m]

I am in the stadium and loving every minute of walcotts performance....

And he wins gold.

[croflash]

Most shocking Olympic Champion in T&F since?

[jazzcyclist]

Congratulations to Keshorn Walcott on his historic gold medal.

The Caribbean nations continue to show why the Olympics shouldn't allow charity cases.

[shivfan]

Most of the crowd didnt even notice...

[gm]

Shortest winning throw since 1988, but certainly the most wonderful!

[DentyCracker]

Most of the crowd didnt even notice...

World Junior champ and Olympic Champ in the space of a month. He must think he's dreaming.
Big up to the young man. His brother is a good TJer

[t_monk]

BIGGEST UPSET OF THE MEET!!!!! GOOOOO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pakillo]

Most shocking Olympic Champion in T&F since?

Thorkildsen in Athens? Merah-Benida in Sydney?