Thursday, August 12, 2021
As a consequence of the Olympic drama
Vetter takes on the world association
Because of the soft flooring in Tokyo, javelin thrower Johannes Vetter feels that he has been deprived of his Olympic victory. To prevent this problem in the future, he takes on the World Athletics Federation. His goal: the same conditions everywhere and at all times.
Before Johannes Vetter can relax and “enjoy the beach” on vacation in Italy, the javelin ace still has a lot to do. After the upcoming six competitions this season, “everyone should again know who is the measure of all things in javelin throwing,” said Vetter, who will return to the stage on Sunday for the first time after his Olympic drama in Offenburg. And besides, Vetter also fights for more justice in his discipline.
His goal: standardized criteria for the quality of the run-up so that every thrower at the Olympics, World Championships or European Championships knows what to expect. The surface should be “standardized”, demands the ex-world champion. Vetter is not talking about the career in the entire stadium, “the last four to eight meters are enough”, when the javelin thrower approached: “I won’t let the butter be taken off my bread. I want to find a solution that works for everyone . “
The effort to lay such a standard surface is “totally minimal. I could almost do that myself the day before the competition,” said Vetter, who is already holding talks and wants to submit his request to the World Athletics Association.
Should the 28-year-old not be heard, he wants to think about “collecting his medical bills and sending it to World Athletics. That comes together a lot”. The Pole Marcin Krukowski, number two in the world behind sports soldier Vetter and who, like London Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott, has already failed in qualifying, is even examining legal action.
“I didn’t fall into a hole”
Vetter, who traveled to Tokyo as a top favorite after his 90-meter throws in a row, did not get more than 82.52 meters and ninth place at the Olympics. The sports soldier was unable to implement his technique on the newly laid surface and kept slipping away, as in “aquaplaning”. Throwers with a different technique got along better with the surface. “This powerlessness, this anger that I couldn’t call up what I’m capable of,” continue to drive Vetter.
On Sunday he throws in Offenburg for the first time after his return from Japan, and there are also competitions in Lausanne, Paris, Chorzow, Zurich and Berlin. Tokyo was supposed to be the high point of his career, he only trained for this one day for five years, “but I didn’t fall into a hole,” said Vetter, even if he was “furiously upset” about the situation there.
But it goes on, on and on. Vetter also wants to compete in the future to “throw a world record or maybe 100 meters”. But for this he needs the right surface when throwing it.
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