Rutger Smith puts his focus on discus throwing in 2010

A lingering back problem requires Rutger Smith to focus on discus.

"The discus causes less pressure on the lower back," explains the 28-year-old Smith.

Smith's performance at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 was very disappointing. His 7th place in the discus and 9th place in the shot did not comply to expectations. After the Olympics, Smith has rarely been in action.

Facts about Rutger Smith

Rutger Smith is the only athlete to win medals at World Championships in both events. He started sports in 1987 at the age of 6!

Name	Rutger Smith
Birthday	9.07.1981
Place of birth	Groningen
Home	Leek, the Netherlands
Club	Groningen Atletiek
Coach	Gert Damkat
Height	197 cm
Weight	130 kg
PB´s	Shot Put 21.62 m (Leiden 2006, national record)
	Discus throw 67.63 m (Helsingborg 2007)
	Hammer throw 60.85 (2001)
Achievments	1999 European Junior Championships 1st (shot put, discus throw)
	2000 World Junior Championships 1st (shot put); 3rd (discus throw)
	2002 European Indoor Championships 8th (shot put)
	2002 European Championsgips 8th (shot put)
	2003 World Indoor Championships 10th (shot put)
	2003 European U23 Championships 1st (discus throw); 3rd (shot put)
	2003 World Championships 26th (shot put); 15th (discus throw)
	2004 World Indoor Championships 14th (shot put)
	2004 Olympic Games 14th (shot put); 16th (discus throw)
	2005 European Indoor Championships 2nd (shot put)
	2005 World Championships 2nd (shot put) 2005 World Championships 2nd (shot put) 2005 World Championships 2nd (shot put) 2005 World Championships 2nd (shot put)
	2006 European Championships 4th (shot put); 7th (discus throw)
	2007 European Indoor Championships 9th (shot put)
	2007 World Championships 3rd (discus throw); 4th (shot put)
	2008 World Indoor Championships 5th (shot put)
	2008 Olympic Games 9th (shot put) ; 7th (discus throw)
Progression	Discus throw
	58.74 (19)
	59.96 (20) 59.96 (20)
	64.69 (21)
	62.70 (22)
	63.79 (23)
	65.51 (24)
	64.60 (25)
	67.63 (26)
	66.85 (27)
	Shot put
	19.48 (19)
	18.21 (20)
	20.39 (21)
	20.52 (22)
	20.94 (23)
	21.41 (24)
	21.62 (25)
	21.19 (26)
	20.80 (27)
Homepage	Rutger Smith

Videos
Rutger Smith - 20.77
Rutger Smith - 63.80
Rutger Smith - 67.63