Egypt\u2019s Ihab Abdelrahan threw an incredible 89.21m lifetime best and Area Record to win May\u2019s Shanghai IAAF Diamond League, and his eye-catching six-metre improvement this season is understandably the current hot topic in men\u2019s javelin.
The 25-year-old 2008 world junior silver medallist explained:
\u201cI\u2019m not surprised as my coach told me I could throw over 87m so I\u2019m happy.
\u201cI used to train alone in Egypt but now I train with my coach in Finland, he has changed my technique.\u201d
Seventh in last summer\u2019s IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Abdelrahan \u2013 with possibly even more from him to come as he learns the event – continued:
\u201cI had an ankle injury in Shanghai and it twisted again in Beijing but it\u2019s better now.
\u201cI feel happy and good – I\u2019ve been watching YouTube videos (of the javelin greats) to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n
World champion, Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic is returning from a long-term knee injury but the 31-year-old is in positive mood:
\u201cI had a big problem with my knee but it\u2019s getting better. It was a problem in 2013 but it\u2019s better than expected now so I\u2019m waiting for a better result, hopefully tomorrow,\u201d he revealed.<\/p>\n
Fourth in the 2012 London Olympics, Vesely is a 88.34m thrower at his best and he boasts a season\u2019s best of 83.80m from his third place finish in Shanghai.
The winner of May\u2019s Prefontaine Classic and Eugene IAAF Diamond League, he continued:
\u201cIn January, I couldn\u2019t run 100m without pain \u2013 the muscles around my knee were like a baby\u2019s muscles. I started walking and running barefoot so now it\u2019s ok.
\u201cI\u2019m not in my best shape as I missed a lot of training but I still think I can throw well.
\u201cI\u2019m taking care of my legs \u2013 this season is not as important as the next three and everything is dictated by my knee.\u201d
On his fierce rival\u2019s startling performance, Vesely offered:
\u201cWhen I saw Ihab\u2019s throw, I thought it is still possible in my career, I still believe there is space to get better.
\u201cHis throw is good for javelin, it makes it more attractive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another former champion hoping to regain his form here in Oslo is 2007 world champion, Tero Pitk\u00e4m\u00e4ki of Finland.
The 31-year-old world silver medallist was only sixth in Shanghai and he admitted that sleep has eluded him recent days but for a positive reason:
\u201cI had a baby boy yesterday – baby and mother are well. I\u2019m super happy and tired, and haven\u2019t slept for the past three nights.\u201d
The 2008 Olympic bronze medallist who has an impressive 91.53m lifetime best from the 2005 season, continued:
\u201cI had some problems in South Africa in February and March and then had an elbow operation on the first of April so I\u2019ve not done much throwing since but I\u2019m getting better.
\u201cMy biggest goal was yesterday but I want the gold medal from Zurich (at the European Championships in August) and to throw 90m is my aim.\u201d
On the current world-leader, the Olympic fifth placer admitted:
\u201cI knew he could throw over 85m but it was a good surprise \u2013 I need to improve my throwing to beat him.\u201d<\/p>\n
2004 and 2008 Olympic champion, Andreas Thorkildsen agreed that Abdelrahan will be the man to beat tomorrow:
\u201cIhab\u2019s a serious competitor \u2013 he\u2019s come up through the ranks but it was a big surprise, he\u2019s a big guy who can throw far.
\u201cIt was a good throw with nice flight and he has a bright future,\u201d he said.
The 32-year-old Norwegian finished runner-up in Eugene with 80.52m and has fine memories of Oslo\u2019s Bislett Stadium, having registered his superb 91.59m lifetime best there in 2006.
The 2009 world champion and two-time European champion explained his hopes ahead of competing in front of his home crowd:
\u201cI\u2019m healthy \u2013 Eugene was difficult so I have higher expectations tomorrow, I hope to be a lot more comfortable on the run-way and I hope we have nice weather, competition and results.
\u201cI can’t promise 89m but I\u2019m able to. It\u2019s still early (in the season) but it\u2019s interesting that new countries are coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nicola Bamford for the ExxonMobil Bislett Games media team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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