Aki Parviainen, javelin world champion in 1999, believes that Oliver Helander will fight for the World Cup medal despite the weak qualification.
The level of the javelin World Cup qualification was exceptionally low. It is very rare to go to the final with a result of less than 80 meters, but now the last place went to Moldova Andrian Mardare with a result of 79.78.
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Required results for the javelin final:
2023 Budapest: 79.78 (Andrian Mardare, Moldova)
2022 Eugene: 80.03 (Lassi Etelätalo)
2021 Tokyo: 82.40 (Kim Amb, Sweden)
2019 Doha: 82.26 (Lassi Etelätalo)
2017 London: 83.49 (Marcin Krukowski, Poland)
2016 Rio: 81.96 (Braian Toledo, Argentina)
Only India threw more than the 83-meter qualifying mark Neeraj Chopra (88.77), of Pakistan Arshad Nadeem (86.79) and the Czech Republic Jakub Vadlejch (83.50).
– Qualifying is always qualifying. Not everything is shown yet, Aki Parviainen know.
He also believes that the early hour and the prevailing heat in Budapest taxed the meters of the throws. Even the tailwind did not make it easier for the throwers to perform.
Parviainen lists other challenges of qualifying.
– The platform is new, you have to familiarize yourself with the equipment and there are only three throws. In addition, value competitions always have their own pressure. There are many stress factors.
Oliver Helander made it to Sunday’s final, even though he fell far short of the qualifying mark. Pasi Liesimaa
The arcs of the Finns were short, and Lassi Etelätalo (78.19) and Toni Kuusela (79.27) missed the qualification.
The only Finn competing in Sunday’s final is Oliver Helander, who also managed a modest result of 80.19.
Parviainen expected that all three Finns would have reached the final.
– But if you think about the backgrounds, then Etelätalo didn’t quite roll and the shooting accuracy was a little lost. Self-confidence was not at the level it should have been, he says about last year’s EC medalist’s broken season.
– Kuusela has the ability to throw, but he just can’t perform calmly under pressure.
Parviainen believes that passing the qualification will free Helander.
– Yes, I believe that he will be the strongest in the final and will fight for a medal. Such a little tight pruning might sharpen the body as well. At least that happened to me.
Helander’s best result of the season is 87.32 from June and the record 89.83 from last year.
Who do you pick as the champion favorite?
– Yes, it is India’s Chopra, Parviainen answers.
– Vadlejch has also thrown well this season, the SE man continues and also mentions Nadeem, Germany, as medal favorites Julian Weber and Helander’s.
– There they are.
Aki Parviainen celebrated the javelin gold at the World Championships in Seville in 1999. Earlier in the same year, he threw the still valid Finnish record of 93.09. EPA / AOP