World champion Kristjan Ceh is enjoying his tomorrow, but the relationship with the ex-pilot is icy.
Discus thrower from Kristjan Ceh23, became a big celebrity in his home country of Slovenia thanks to Eugene’s World Cup gold medal, receiving tens of thousands of messages after his star moment in July.
– There has been a lot more attention, but I have nothing against it, because I like to be the center of attention, says Ceh.
In a country of more than two million inhabitants, there is at least one person whose attention Ceh does not need.
– There was no congratulatory message or phone call from him after the world championship. I don’t even want to hear anything about him.
He is an ex-coach Gorazd Rajher.
– I would not like to talk about this topic, but I can say that we have no differences.
Iltalehti reported in June how the coaching relationship between Rajher, who coached Ceh to the top of the world, and the athlete was destroyed last season, shortly before the Tokyo Olympics. It was a triangle drama, because according to Rajher, Ceh’s Estonian pitcher-thrower spouse Anna Maria Orel ruined the discus thrower’s everyday sports life.
Crazy fingers
After his great performance, Ceh visited his home country for a couple of days for a national festival, but otherwise, the time between Eugene and Munich went well in Estonia.
– Things are calmer in Estonia, he laughs.
– I was able to prepare well for the EC under Gerdi’s coaching there, the man continues.
The star thrower of yesteryear Gerd Kanter has turned Ceh into the world number one.
– If I become European champion, I will defeat him in at least one thing. But Gerd has so many medals that I can’t even count so many, Ceh states and begins to count the legend’s medals with his fingers.
The parts of the finger calculator are enormously long.
According to a US study, the average middle finger is 2.87 inches (about 7.28 centimeters) and the XL is 3.15 inches (about eight centimeters).
– I haven’t measured, but isn’t it longer than eight centimeters, Ceh grins.
– Long fingers are helpful in puck handling. They are probably a result of genes and farm work. We had almost no machines, so looms and hammers became familiar. A lot of work was done by hand. When I started athletics, I was really strong, describes the man who grew up on a farm.
And so.
The final result of the calculation is that Kanter won 11 prestigious competition medals in his career, including Olympic and World Championship gold, but no European championship.
Ski in the moonlight
In the European Championship qualifiers in Munich, the Slovenian easily nailed a 69-meter shot. ZUMA / MVPHOTOS
The conversation revolves around basketball and cycling, Slovenia’s biggest sports, until I ask: Do you know which sport’s World Cup will be held in Slovenia next year?
– I don’t.
Planica hosts the World Ski Championships.
– Maybe I’ve heard of them. I’ve never been on skis, Ceh laughs.
Ceh, who broke his record of 71.27 this season, scored an effortless 69.06 on Wednesday in the European Championship qualifier.
– It was a very easy performance. Like a practice throw.
2019–21 world champion and Olympic champion Daniel Ståhl estimates that Ceh will dominate puck circles for years to come and will throw more than 77 meters.
– I don’t think Daniel is out of this business yet. He is strong and technically good, the Slovenian states.
– Or that 77 meters… Well, that’s a dream, he continues.
In the European Championship final on Friday, the number one challenger may be the recent World Championship silver medalist Mykolas Alekna.
– A really big talent and a youngster who is only 19 years old.
Father as an idol
Only 19-year-old Mykolas Alekna won World Championship silver in Eugene. PDO
Alekna cleared the qualification with a score of 65.48.
– It has been a little difficult to keep in shape, because the World Championships were of course the main goal of the season. But feeling fresh, so I think I will throw far in the final. It will be fun, says the Lithuanian, who is studying in the United States and already competed behind the wheel on March 19.
Mykolas constantly gets to answer questions about his famous father. A legend of the sport Virgilius Alekna is, among other things, the hockey player of two Olympic golds and two world championships.
– I’m used to it. It doesn’t matter that they ask about the father. He is my idol.
Basketball is the main sport in Lithuania, followed by football.
– Athletics is not very popular, but discus throwing as an individual sport is followed with strong traditions, explains Mykolas Alekna.
– There were no celebrations in Lithuania after the World Championship silver, because here the European Championships are still to be thrown. My season ends on Friday, so next week there will be a party in my home country. Hopefully also the EC medal ceremony.