Expected Highlights in Osaka - Throws 16. August 07

Looking to the Throwing Events, the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan (25 Aug to 2 Sep) will host a slew of solid medal favourites along with some compelling head-to-head competitions.

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Defending Shot Put champion Adam Nelson (21.47 SB) will have a battle on his hands, primarily with his American compatriot Reese Hoffa, the reigning World Indoor champion who threw a career best and world-leading 22.43m in London. Olympic bronze medallist Joachim Olsen of Denmark continues to improve; most recently the Dane improved his national record to 21.61.

Estonian Gerd Kanter is the world leader (72.02 from early May), but few can deny that the Discus Throw favourite in Osaka will be Lithuanian Virgilijus Alekna. The two-time World and Olympic champion currently boasts the longest win streak in the sport at 37 (finals). He’s thrown beyond 70m four times this season, including a 71.56 season’s best.

With nine men throwing beyond 80m this season, the Hammer Throw will be among the most hotly contested events at the World Championships. Of those, three – Vadim Devyatovskiy (82.94) and Ivan Tikhon (82.58) of Belarus and Slovenian national record holder Primoz Kozmus (82.30) have reached beyond 82m.

The Javelin Throw will be a barn-burner as well, with the spotlight on a formidable foursome: world leader Breaux Greer (91.29) of the USA, Finn Tero Pitkämäki (91.23), Latvia’s Olympic silver medallist Vadim Vasilevskis (90.73) and Norway’s Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen (89.49). None have ever captured a World title.

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