Andreas Thorkildsen

Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen experienced the highs and lows of sport in the Javelin, taking the lead with a season’s best of 85.12m, only to see his perennial rival Tero Pitkämäki of Finland better it with the next throw of 85.33m, and then having to limp out of the competition after staggering to a pained halt as he prepared to release his fifth attempt of the night.

Thorkildsen, who appeared to suffer pain in his left leg, made straight for the bench to put on his tracksuit, clearly done with the competition.

“I felt something in my thigh, close to my knee,” Thorkildsen said. “I don’t know what it is. It happened on the run-up. I am glad I did not throw that throw. I have to check now what it is. It felt weird.”

But the World and Olympic champion was among the throwers offering encouraging applause for Pitkämäki as the Finn, already the winner with a throw which equalled this year’s world-leading effort, launched his last throw of the night. A nice touch from an event known for its sportsmanship.

Robert Oosthuizen of South Africa took third place with 83.73m.

It was an unhappy end to the night for Thorkildsen, who had also achieved another of his objectives in defeating the young Czech Republic thrower, Petr Frydrych, who had beaten him in the first Samsung Diamond League meeting of the season in Doha. Frydrych finished sixth with 79.40m.

source: iaaf.org