Matthias de Zordo

German javelin thrower Matthias De Zordo enjoyed a fantastic finale to the summer during the last month, firstly upsetting the odds to take the gold medal at the World Championships and then improving his personal best to 88.36m in Brussels to win the Samsung Diamond League's Diamond Race.

The 23-year-old soldier talked to the German athletics federation website www.leichtathletik.de about the World Championships, his rival Andreas Thorkildsen and throwing past the 90-metre barrier.

Q: Matthias, many congratulations on your victories in Daegu and Brussels; did you expect even one of those performances?

A: I already said in Daegu that I was in good shape. Actually, I wanted to throw a personal best there but I eventually got it (in Brussels). At the start of the season, I knew I was throwing well, I just could not do everything at the full speed, but I knew one thing: my technique was working.

Q: How do you assess your third throw in Brussels, your personal best?

A: I knew it was a good one as soon as I released the spear, that it will fly far. I'm running as fast as I ever have but I never have put everything together. This time my technique came together.

Q: Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen was until then the leader in the Diamond League standings, what were your thoughts about snatching the $40,000 first prize from under his nose?

A: I do not know what's up with Andreas at the moment. Actually, I would have thought that after the World Championships he would bounce back and show us what he can do. However, he has problems with his technique, just like in Daegu: He is not bringing his shoulder through when he is throwing but he's said he does not know the reason.

Q: Was this the perfect season?

A: One can almost speak of a perfect season, but for me there was just one bit missing, a proper duel with Andreas. The performances of the other throwers was certainly not bad but we have to make the javelin interesting and offer the public great duels, that's the attraction of a competition. I hope he's back on form next season.

Q: After your World Championships victory, you said you feel like you were dreaming. How quickly did you come back to reality?

A: The dream lasted for a couple of days more. After my return from Daegu, I was greeted at Frankfurt Airport by my parents, friends and family. In Saarbrucken, the national association  threw a little party for me. There were a couple of other celebrations. However, eventually, it came the point when I said to myself: “You still have two more competitions, so you have to concentrate.”

Q: Do you already have a special place for your gold medal?

A: It's in a nice position on a shelf above my TV, where I also keep the silver medal I won at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona last summer.

Q: The past year has also been rewarding financially, have you any plans for what you are going to do with the money?

A: I've still not had any thoughts. I also do not have a list of how much money I've won and where I won it. Of course, it's nice to have the money but it’s a minor issue. I do not throw for the money, but because I enjoy it.

Q: How great is the temptation to rest on your laurels during the winter?

A: I hope that I am a long way from that situation! On the contrary: my successes spur me on even more; and I'm sure Andreas will not be sitting idle either. He will work really hard in order to keep me and the other throwers at bay next year.

Q: You are getting closer to the 90-metre mark. Is it going to happen next year?

A: I've shown that I am improving year-by-year; that's why I'm confident about next year. Let's see what comes about at the European Athletics Championships and the Olympic Games; 90 metres is the dream of every javelin thrower and it would be nice if it came in the Olympic final. That's what we are working towards.

source: IAAF