Tokyo Olympics 2021 India, Day 15: Neeraj Chopra won India's first gold medal at Tokyo 2020 and also independent India's first medal in Athletics. (AP)Tokyo Olympics 2021 India, Day 15 Highlights: Neeraj Chopra won Gold in the Men’s Javelin Throw final to win Independent India’s first medal in Athletics on Saturday. This is India’s 7th medal at Tokyo 2020, the best ever medal haul for India at a single edition of the Games. Neeraj Chopra’s Gold is also India’s second-ever individual Gold medal at the Olympics, after Abhinav Bindra in Shooting.
Earlier, Indian golfer, Aditi Ashok raised Indians hopes on Saturday for a historic medal but lost out on bronze by one shot to Lydia Ko. Bajrang Punia beat Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan 8:0 in his Bronze medal match to win a sixth medal for India in the Tokyo Games.
So far, India had won two silver and three bronze medals — Mirabai Chanu and Ravi Dahiya (Silver) and PV Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain and the Indian men’s hockey team (Bronze) — in Tokyo, one less than their record haul of 6 from London 2012. For this edition, India are currently placed 66th on the medals tally. Saturday is the last event with Indian participation. The closing ceremony will be held on Sunday, where Bajrang is set to be India’s flag-bearer.
Vandana Katariya of India celebrates with teammates after scoring. (Reuters Photo)
It’s raining rewards for Neeraj Chopra after he secured India’s second individual gold in Olympic history with a sensational performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The 23-year-old athlete from Harayana has been honoured by several state governments and private organisations for her remarkable achievement. (READ FULL STORY)
In recognition of the stupendous achievement of Subedar Neeraj Chopra (VSM), who has won India’s first ever Olympic Gold medal in Athletics, Punjab Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday announced a special cash reward of Rs. 2 Crore for his award winning 87.58 metres javelin throw in Tokyo. The Chief Minister said it was a proud moment for India and all Punjabis, since the family of Neeraj Chopra, a serving soldier of Indian Army, traces its roots to Punjab.
From the World Cup to Olympics, Brazil's men are champions again in Yokohama 19 years apart. Malcom scored in the 108th minute in extra time to give Brazil a 2-1 win over Spain on Saturday to defend Olympic soccer gold on the scene of its last world title in 2002. It's a third straight Olympic soccer medal for Brazil after also collecting bronze in 2012.
Allyson Felix won her 11th career Olympic medal Saturday, combining with her American teammates to finish the 4x400-meter relay in 3 minutes, 16.85 seconds for a runaway victory. The team of Felix, Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad and Athing Mu was never in jeopardy in this one. It was America's seventh straight victory at the Olympics in the 4x400. Poland finished second, 3.68 seconds behind, and Jamaica finished third.
A 16 km drive from Panipat, through the picturesque Assandh road, where you will spot a theka (liquor store) every 500 metres, lies Khandra. The village, which houses nearly 500 families, doesn’t possess a playground, stadium or even a gym. The youngsters either work on the sprawling family fields or switch to cities for livelihood. Even the closest run-down gym is about six kilometres away.
It’s hard to fathom that despite the apparent nondescriptness, Khandra bred India's first Olympics gold medallist in Athletics, writes Andrew Amsan.
When Neeraj Chopra went to Indonesia for the 2018 Asian Games, grown Indonesian men walked up to him and gushed to his face, calling Neeraj Chopra “handsome, like Shah Rukh Khan from India.” He left the competition far behind at Asian Games 2018 as he broke the national record to bring India's first javelin gold in rhe Asian Games.
Today he has gone one beyond.
India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra picked up meditation techniques and also turned to motivational books, Jeet Aapki by Shiv Khera being a favourite, during this 16-month rehabilitation period following an elbow surgery last year.
“While he would tell us about meditation, it was a surprise for all us to see him meditate when he visited home before going to South Africa, his current training base. He carried Shiv Khera’s book Jeet Aapki and often told us that it’s all about motivation once he gets fully fit. Even during the rehab, most of us family members talked with him through whatsapp almost daily," Chopra’s uncle Bhim Chopra had told Nitin Sharma last year.
Brazil! Back-to-back gold medallists. They win 2-1 against Spain after extra time. Dani Alves is an Olympic champion. Richarlison is an OIympic medallist.
Right. Olympics action continues in Tokyo. The Football Men's gold medal match is being played now. Brazil and Spain are locked in combat. Brazil take a 2-1 lead in Extra time with a goal by Malcolm. 10 minutes left for Brazil to win the gold. Can Asension and the Spanish strike back?
"More than half a century after Milkha Singh looked back for a fraction of a second and 37 years after PT Usha forgot to dip at the finish line resulting in heart-breaking fourth-place finishes, the glorious flight of Neeraj Chopra’s javelin gave the country its first-ever track and field medal, a gold," writes Nihal Koshie.
"Dedicate this medal to Milkha Singh. Hopefully he'll be watching this from the heavens," Neeraj Chopra says after his gold medal
For Indian fans who have waited for a moment of glory in Athletics for years, Neeraj Chopra's gold is the end of a long wait. Far longer than even the 41-year wait for a medal in hockey which ended this time. 121 years ago, when the Olympics started as a sideshow in a Paris fair, Norman Pritchard won a medal for India in Athletics, but IOA and IAAF are not in agreement whether that medal belongs to UK or India anyway. Neeraj's medal today is just the second time, and the first time for independent India, that an Athletics medal has been won.
Milkha Singh came close in Rome, PT Usha came close in Barcelona, now Neeraj has finally fulfilled all their dreams.
Neeraj Chopra shares a solitary moment with his gold medal. Mihir Vasavda takes a historic photo.
Neeraj had crossed 87 with his very first throw of the night. He bettered his mark even more with his 2nd attempt, going up to 87.58. Both his first two throws would have been good enough for Gold, with nobody else managing to get across 87 on the night of the final.
Sometimes, history is taught to us. Sometimes, we see it unfolding in front of our eyes. Neeraj raises his right hand to the heavens. India have won an Athletics Gold medal at the Olympics.
Now, it's time for the medal ceremony! Neeraj gets Gold! The national anthem to ring out for the first time in the Athletics arena in the Olympics now. 'If you have tears, prepare to shed them now!'
Meanwhile, some announcements from the Haryana government for Neeraj:
- Rs. 6 crore cash award
- Class-I government job
- a plot, anywhere he wants in Haryana, at concessional rates (50 per cent concession)
- An athletics centre shall be constructed in Panchkula, Neeraj Chopra to be appointed its head
'Dad from above is crying in joy . His dream has come true . Crying as I write this message. Proud moment for India . Salute him for his determination and hard work. God bless.
Jeev'
A short message sent by Milkha Singh's son Jeev Milkha Singh showing a little of what this result means.
"It’s my dream to see an Indian athlete win a gold medal at the Olympics that I lost in Rome"
- Milkha Singh (1929-2021)
"Neeraj Chopra did not just win a gold medal, flinging the javelin a staggering 87.58m to top the charts in Tokyo, but vaulted himself into history books as well as the consciousness of a medal-starved nation. It would go down, to date, as the most historic of medals in India’s Olympic history. Perhaps, the most historic in the nation’s sporting history. The gold, a historic first for the country in track and field, the second for an individual ever and the first since Abhinav Bindra’s in 2008, would also ensure India’s richest-ever tally (seven)," Andrew Amsan writes on this historic occasion.
India erupts in celebration! Neeraj Chopra takes a victory march around the stadium, the tricolour draped around him! The Indian national anthem will be heard at Tokyo 2020! And in the Athletics arena! Stuff of dreams! Stuff of Olympic legends!
The two throwers from Czech Republic, who have won silver and bronze, ask Neeraj, as he comes around to them after his victory lap: 'Happy?' Yes! Yes! A resounding Yes!
Neeraj lifts India to gold standard. In men's javelin throw he won first ever medal in Olympics. With a throw of 87.03 metres in his first attempt, Neeraj killed the competition. In his second he improved it to 87.58m and that turned out to be the golden throw. His third was a decent one under 80m but fouled his fourth and fifth attempts. Except for Viteszalav Veslay of Czech Republic who threw 86.67m none of his rivals including world champion Johannas Vetter fell by wayside
Vesely (3rd), Vadlejch (2nd) and Neeraj (1st) the only ones left now. Their spots unthreatened.
Vesely goes first. Foul throw. He will take Bronze.
Vadlejch goes now. Foul. Silver for him
Neeraj Chopra will win Gold. A first medal in Athletics. A second ever individual Gold medallist, after Abhinav Bindra.
Neeraj Chopra has won independed India's first medal in Athletics! Remember the name!
Sixth round. One last attempt for all the 8 throwers, The Finnish thrower ends 8th. The Moldovan, again scoring 81.09 - a picture of consistency if ever there was one - ends 7th. The Belarusian ends with a foul throw. Ends 6th. Pakistan's Arshad goes now. Foul throw from him too. Ends 5th.
Weber now. Can he get into the medal spots? No! 75.72! We have our medallists. Weber will be 4th.
The javelin throw final is interrupted as the anthems begin for a medal ceremony going on alongside. Could India have its national anthem ring out in the Athletics arena for the first time in the Olympics? Could history be scripted? 2 rounds left.
The Moldovan gets to 83.30 with his 5th attempt. His best throw so far. Climbs to 7th spot from 8th. What a show of consistency this has been from him at the bottom of the rankings. None of his throws have been below 80.
Vadlejch, who was in the medal places for a while, comes up with another big throw with his 5th attempt. Could this get him among the medal places? Yes! 86.67! 2nd biggest throw of the evening. Moves up to Silver spot. Weber pushed down to 4th. Nadeem pushed down to 5th.
Weber throws 85.15. He threw 85.30 with his 1st throw of the night. He stays 4th.
Vesely now. 84.98. Holds on to Bronze, pushed down one spot by his countryman Vadlejch. Neeraj's fifth throw disqualified to.
Neeraj - 87.58
Vadlejch - 86.67
Vesely 85.44
The 8 throwers will now throw in the order of their best throws in the first 3 rounds. Which means Neeraj will now be 8th in order from the 4th round onwards. The Moldovan, who made it through into the next half as the 8th best thrower, just ahead of Vetter, scores 81.90 in the 4th round. Consistency from him.
Arshad Nadeem, currently at 4th, comes up with another good throw. 82.91. Still at 4th.
Now time for Weber, holding the Bronze medal place with his first throw of the night so far. 83.10 from him. Does not cross his previous mark. Still holds on to Bronze spot. Vesely, in Silver medal place, with a disqualified throw. He holds on to.
Neeraj now. In Gold medal place. By more than 2 HUGE metres. Now time for his 4th throw. Gets the sparse crowd going with a few Viking claps. He gets it high. Too high. The trajectory does not help the distance. Disqualified throw anyway. Still in the lead.
Neeraj 87.58
Vesely 85.44
Weber 85.30
The huge development from the first half of the Javelin final! Johannes Vetter has finished out of the top 8 and will be eliminated. The World No.1 has been eliminated!
We have lost Vetter (9th!), a Belarusian, a Swede and a Romanian after the first 3 rounds. 8 javelin throwers will compete in the last 3 rounds. Vetter's departure has to be one of the biggest upsets in Athletics in Tokyo. He leaves with only one legal throw of 82.52 while his next two throws were fouls.
Neeraj 87.58
Vesely 85.44
Weber 85.30
Vesely from Czech Republic goes above 85 with his third throw! A veteran in the field. He had not thrown above 83 recently. Today, he has remembered how to go over 85 again! 85.44! That takes him up to Silver medal spot. Still behind Neeraj though.
Weber, who has pushed down to Bronze spot, throws now. And fails to cross his earlier mark.
Vetter now! Just stops himself from crossing the line again. Another poor throw! Disqualified again. At the halfway point of the final, the Germans are in danger. Weber is in Bronze medal place. Vetter has dropped off!
Arshad Nadeem goes now. 84.62! Great throw! He goes up to 4th spot. Vetter is pushed out of the top 8 for now. This is one crazy Javelin Throw final unfolding!
Vesely, currently in Silver medal place, again comes up with a great throw! 85.44! That consolidates his 2nd spot at the halfway point.
Neeraj 87.58
Vesely 85.44
Weber 85.30
On to the third round now. Neeraj comfortably in the lead at the end of 2 rounds.
The Moldovan gets above 82 with his third throw. His throws are getting bigger. As it is for Neeraj, who is up next. Neeraj goes in his third attempt, lets out a roar. But it's a disappointing one after those first two missiles. This time, he throws 76.79.
How will the rest of the field do in their 2nd attempt? The Moldovan crosses 81 again, The next few throwers fail to cross the 80-mark again. Weber makes a very disappointing second throw. 77.90!
Vetter then slips! Big incident! World champion Vetter slips in his second attempt and goes out of bounds. Throw cancelled. Arshad Nadeem's second attempt disqualified too! Vadlejch from Czech, who had thrown 83.98, is also disqualified! The 2nd attempt ends in disaster for almost everybody. Except Neeraj.
Neeraj - 87.58
Weber - 85.30 (Season Best throw)
Vadlejch - 83.98
Here's how India is watching. Where are you watching from?
Now, the 12 throwers begin their 2nd throw. 8 throws crossed the 80-mark in the 1st round. Will we get a 90 soon?
Here goes Neeraj in his second attempt. The Indian contingent in the crowd cheers and prepares to take photos of the moment of the throw. Neeraj throws! He loves it! He's celebrating even before it lands...87.58! Increases his lead!
Germany's Weber makes the second 85+ throw of the 1st round. He is up to 85.30. Vetter goes next! 82.52. A slightly underwhelming first throw from him. Pakistan's Nadeem Arshad gets 82.40 in his first throw.
Right, a quick explainer on how this final will work. All 12 athletes will throw their javelins 6 times. Their best distance from among the 6 distances will be counted as their score. The first attempt has just been done for all 12. Neeraj leads. Germans Weber and Vetter in silver and gold medal places.
The first thrower from Moldova throws 81.16.
Neeraj goes for his first throw! 87.03! Big throw! The gauntlet has been thrown!
Sweeden's Kim throws. 77.22. Fourth throw by the Romanian. 77.03.
Neeraj leads by a country mile!
Neeraj - 86.65
Vetter - 85.64
Nadeem - 85.16
The two group toppers from the qualification stage in Javelin were Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan and Neeraj Chopra from India. Neeraj was 1st across both groups, finishing qualification in 1st place, a first for for India in Olympics Athletics.
The heat factor was said to be important in why both Neeraj and Pakistan's Arshad did well that day. Today, however, the final will be in the evening in Japan, in much cooler conditions. Expect the European throwers (here's looking at Germany, Czech Republic, Belarus in particular) to up their game in the final today.
The 12 Javelin throwers are now walking into the field. Neeraj Chopra will be second in order.
Meanwhile, we haven't had a second to digest the fact that Bajrang has made this Tokyo contingent match history with a 6th medal. Can Neeraj now take us one step beyond? A first medal in Athletics? Highest ever haul at Olympics? Well, we have one last evening session to keep the dream alive.
2 more points! Another takedown by Bajrang. A 6-point lead now. 30 seconds left to defend now. And there's another 2 points! Just 2 points away from a Technical Superiority win. Niyazbekov looks to have given up. Final hooter sounds!
Bajrang Punia wins Bronze medal with 8:0 win.
A 2-point lead at Half time. Could mean nothing by the end of the next 3. Here we go! Bajrang dives forward for the legs. Niyazbekov can get away. Bajrang makes another attack, this time above the waist. Again great defence by the Kazakh. Again, it's Bajrang who defends. Bajrang takes down Niyazbekov! 2 points. First 2 points! Bajrang now ahead on the countback rule too!
Bajrang tries to grab Niyazbekov's right leg, he moves away and grabs Bajrang's head in a lock. The coaches start screaming from the sidelines. But Bajrang moves away. Niyazbekov very close to a takedown again! Bajrang again just breaks free. No points. Now Bajrang gets 1 point after sending Niyazbekov out of the centre circle with a push. Half-Time.
Niyazbekov in the red singlet. Bajrang in blue. We begin! It's all Greco-Roman in the first few seconds. No points scored in the first minute. Niyazbekov makes to do a quick grab of Bajrang's left leg, the Indian reacts fast enough. Niyazbekov gets a passivity warning with the 2nd minute coming to an end.
A long delay in the first Bronze medal match after the Hungarian challenged a point against Rashidov, which was unsuccessful, after a long look at the screens by the judges. Bajrang, who would now be waiting in the wings, needs to wait just those few seconds more. Rashidov takes a 3-0 lead in the 2nd half. Another long delay now as Rashidov is treated for some blood on his face. He wins 5-0 and takes a Bronze.
It's finally time for India's Bajrang to take on Kazakhstan's Niyazbekov. A lot on the line. History to avenge. A bronze medal to win. A 6th medal to win for India in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, all the front row seats have been taken. Find yourself one fast and hold on tight!
Bajrang's semifinal can be expected to take place at around 4:10 IST. In the earlier Bronze medal match, Rashidov has taken the first point. Still a few minutes left in the match.
The anticipation around Neeraj has its zenith, meanwhile. That final is set to begin in another half-an-hour. As far as best throws go for the year 2020, Neeraj Chopra is 2nd. Looking at the best throws for the year 2021, Neeraj Chopra is 4th. Going by the best throws ever by the 12 men in the final, Neeraj has the 5th best throw. Vetter, Germany's Weber and the two throwers from Czech Republic have thrown longer distances than Neeraj. Of course, this is the Olympics final! Any of the others who have made it this far might just come up with their best throws today.
The first Bronze medal match is now underway. Rashidov taking on Hungary's Muszukajev for a medal. Bajrang's match will take place after this.
Some more (initimidating) facts about Bajrang's opponent. Niyazbekov is a three-time Asian Champion and a two-time Worlds medalist (bronze in 2011 and silver in 2019). Bajrang is a 3-time Asian champion too of course. And that 2019 silver was after the match when he beat Bajrang 9-9 in the semis on criteria.
Meanwhile the Neeraj anticipation has now reached fever pitch:
Bajrang Punia was always going to be the most anticipated Indian wrestler in Tokyo, and it was fitting that he was the last one to start his campaign. Of course, there are multiple reasons why Bajrang is already a champion. He has been as Asian champion many times by now. In the world championships, 2nd is the highest he has got.
Apart from that though, Bajrang is also a champion because of the way he carries himself. Like how he folded his hands and shook Aliyev's hands with a few seconds left on the clock in his Semifinal yesterday. And like at the end of his Quarterfinal victory, when he offered his fallen opponent his hand to help him get back up:
Kazakh Daulet Niyazbekov, who has a history of controversial fights against Bajrang, will be the man up against him in the Bronze medal match. Confirmed. He has beatedn Senegal's Diatta by a 10-0 scoreline.
Bajrang will be one match fresher than Niyazbekov too today, of course. That match coming up in the next few minutes.
Bajrang's event is up next, but the Javelin finals will soon follow. All eyes on the mat for now, but at 4;30 pm, all of the attention will shift to the Athletics field.
"I really like him. He’s very friendly and open-minded. During our car ride, we did not talk a lot about javelin. We spoke about family, private life and discussed how things are going in Germany and India," says Johannes Vetter, the favourite to win the gold medal ahead of Neeraj because of his 90m+ throws.
True to his style, Bajrang Punia put his tactical acumen and strength to good use in the second period to pin Iran’s Morteza Cheka Ghiasi for a semifinal berth in the men’s free-style 65kg event which took him closer to an Olympic medal on debut. He lost to the dreaded Aliyev in his semifinal following this though.
India's most celebrated wrestler (at least in the men's section) still has a chance to win a medal on his Olympic debut. He will probably be up against Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan. Diatta (SEN) could be the other possible opponent. That match is going on at the moment.
Tom Daley's Olympics began by knitting a cardigan for his "dear friend", Malaysian diver Cheong Jun Hoong. On the penultimate day of the Summer Games in Tokyo, Daley returned with a bronze in the men's 10m platform diving, the fourth Olympic medal of his career.
Daley winning a gold medal, along with Matty Lee, in the men's synchronised diving was one of the most endearing stories of the Tokyo Olympics. Pictures capturing him knitting in the stands and sometimes in between dives in the last couple of weeks made him hugely popular with the fans.
At the 10m final, Daley rallied to register an overall score of 548.25. Cao Yuan of China took the gold with 582.35, while his compatriot Yang Jian claimed the silver with 580.4 points.
Daley suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after the London Olympics in 2012. He is leaving Tokyo on a happy note. "I'm going to take a break now, but I'm feeling better. I'm feeling like I'm a different athlete," he told the BBC.
One of the biggest blows for India in the lead-up to the Tokyo Games was Bajrang Punia's knee injury. Bajrang took the Tokyo mat with a heavily-strapped right knee to save his ligaments some pressure. Uncharacteristically, during his very first match yesterday, Bajrang was resting on his haunches in the last minute, unusually seeming to run out of gas. Wrestling purists warn that Kazakhs are known to be dirty fighters and that Niyazbekov will want to win the Bronze by hook or crook - the second part of which might involve targetting Bajrang's right knee.
However, Bajrang's coach Shako Bentinidis told reporters on the sidelines of his semi yesterday that his knee, while still not 100%, is not giving him too much bother. "It's a must-win match," the coach also said about today's Bronze medal match.
We are now one hour away from Bajrang Punia's Bronze medal match. If he wins, it will be India's 6th medal.
Bajrang's likely opponent is Kazakh Daulet Niyazbekov. He will be taking on Senegal's Adama Diatta in the repechage rounds at 3:15 pm. We'll be keeping an eye on that. Niyazbekov, considered the favourite, has some history with Bajrang. Bajrang lost to Niyazbekov in the 2019 World Championships, in what has been called a 'dirty' fight by wrestling purists since then. But Bajrang did get the better of Daulet 2 months ago in AliAlyev2021. Purists also add Niyazbekov is likely to go for Bajrang's heavily strapped right knee.
Here's a look at the 2019 WC fight, which was said to be a daylight robbery. In fact, as that fight ended, with the scores tied 9-9, the Kazakh edging it on the basis of the biggest point-scoring hold, Niyazbekov ran out to the side of the mat to celebrate even as Bajrang remained standing at the centre of the mat as the final hooter went. Earlier this year though, Bajrang beat him by a big margin.
After being in second position for almost the whole duration of the tournament and raising hopes of an unexpected podium place, Indian golfer Aditi Ashok had to suffer disappointment when she finished outside the medal bracket after 72 holes of the women’s individual event by just one shot.
Nevertheless, it was a hugely creditable performance by the 23-year-old, who matched some of the best players in the world on such a big stage under intense pressure.
Bajrang Punia will be up for a bronze medal bout around 4 PM, while Neeraj Chopra will be aiming for a gold in javelin throw from 4:30 PM. He will be up against favourite Johannes Vetter of Germany. Read Vetter's interview by Andrew Amsan here.
In a 1995 research paper, psychologists studying 'counterfactual thinking' analysed video footage of the 1992 Barcelona Games to deduce that the knowledge of ‘almost winning a gold medal’ ruined the moment for a silver medallist, while the bronze winner was contented by the thought: ‘I at least won a medal’. Read about the findings of the psychologists here.
Argentina won its second Olympics medal ever in men's volleyball, rallying to beat Brazil 25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-13 for the bronze. The only other medal the Argentinians won in the sport came in 1988 when they also beat Brazil for the bronze. Argentina lost the bronze medal game in 2000 in Sydney to Italy in its only other appearance in the medal round. Agustin Loser's block sealed the victory and the Argentinians poured out onto the court in celebration before dancing and singing in a near-empty arena.
China's Mengya Sun and Shixiao Xu won the country's first medal in women's canoe sprint by winning the gold in the canoe double 500 on Saturday. The 2019 world champions finished at a time of 1:55:495 -- two seconds clear of Ukraine's Anastasiia Chetverikova and Liudmyla Luzan. Canada's Laurence Vincente Lapointe and Katie Vincent took the bronze.
Brazil's Isaquias Queiroz dos Santos won the men's 1,000 meters canoe sprint and Moldova's Serghei Tarnovschi took the bronze medal five years after his similar result in Rio de Janeiro was stripped because of a drug violation.
Fourth in Rio 2016 and with a mission to conquer Tokyo, Germany’s modern pentathlete Annika Schleu had started the day well, but ended up with a broken heart. In the discipline, athletes compete in five events – swimming, fencing, equestrian show jumping and the laser-run (shooting and running) all in the same day, August 6. Points are allotted accordingly, and the one with the most at the end of the events wins.
Schleu had competed at London 2012 and finished 26th, followed by the fourth position finish in Rio. The five-time World Championship gold medallist – including the team title in June - wasn’t exactly a firm favourite to win in Tokyo. But she was still the one to watch out for. By the end of the second sport – fencing – in which she set a new Olympic record, she had taken a commanding lead over the group. That’s when it started to unravel.
In the show-jumping event, horses are assigned at random to athletes. Schleu was assigned a steed called ‘Saint Boy.’ The main challenge in the event is for the athlete to quickly develop a bond with the horse. It seemed Schleu had everything under control, as Saint Boy galloped to the first hurdle. But then he refused to jump.
She guided the horse to the other hurdles as well but there was no cooperation. Saint Boy simply refused to jump. All he did instead was march in the other direction or side-step the hurdle with Schleu sobbing astride. The ‘El’ for Eliminated was put across her score, and it forced a steep drop in her ranking from the commanding first place she had worked hard for, to 31, from which there would be no chance of recovery. Coincidentally, Saint Boy was later assigned to Russian Olympic Committee athlete Gulnaz Gubaydullina. She had set a new Olympic record in the opening swimming event. But Saint Boy refused to jump for her as well – she finished a spot behind Schleu.
Johannes Vetter has his own definition of the ‘new normal’. He tries not to show off but the giant German breaks into a self-satisfied smirk. “For me, throwing 90m is like riding a bike,” he says. “Normal. Really easy.” It isn’t, really.
In the three decades since the current javelin models have been in use, only 20 different men have crossed that hallowed mark. Vetter alone has done it a jaw-dropping 17 times, seven of those attempts coming in the first seven months of this year. His monstrous 97.76m effort last September in Poland was the longest javelin throw for more than two decades. | READ MORE |
Johannes Vetter is the favourite to take home the javelin gold ahead of India's Neeraj Chopra on Saturday, and for good reason. The 28-year-old German goes into Saturday’s final with seven 90m-plus throws in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics under his belt — including a season-best throw of 96.29 that is almost seven metres better than the second-best. | READ MORE |