Walcott becomes youngest winner of javelin gold

Posted on August 13, 2012, Monday

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott won the men’s Olympic javelin title on Saturday to become, at 19, the youngest winner of the gold medal.

Walcott threw a national record of 84.58 metres while Oleksandr Pyatnytsya of Ukraine took silver (84.51) and Finland’s Antti Ruuskanen the bronze (84.12).

Walcott gave his country their first athletics Olympic medal outside the sprints.

It is also only their second gold medallist — Hasely Crawford’s victory in the 1976 men’s 100m being the first.

“I started javelin in 2009,” said Walcott. “It wasn’t the most popular event in Trinidad and Tobago so hopefully it will be known now more and field events will be done.

“I am more than stunned. I am surprised by my performance. I just went into the final to enjoy it so to win a gold medal is a feeling I can’t really explain.”

Two time defending champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway finished sixth.— AFP

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