Lassi Etelätalo has the opportunity of a lifetime to win medals – the favorites for javelin medals are few and far between in the EC finals

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Enigmatic. The adjective in question perfectly describes the situation of men’s javelin throwing in Europe in 2022. The EC qualifier held on Friday only emphasized the situation.

Four years ago, at the European Championships in Berlin, a result of 79.74 was enough for the last place in the final. Now only the Czech Republic Jakub Vadlejch (81,81) and Germany’s Julian Weber (80.99) were able to push that result further.

Vadlejch therefore won the qualification with a score of 81.81. Four years ago, no less than seven throwers raced further than that qualifying result.

Friday’s qualifying was frankly low-level. A poor result of 77.20 was enough for the final competition. There have been eight European Championships in this millennium. Only in Barcelona 2010 have they reached the final with a weaker result.

Of course, you shouldn’t give too much weight to the qualifying results. The morning race can make a difference. Especially the top names do only what is necessary.

However, Vaisu qualifying was not a big surprise. The situation for men in Europe has not been very different this year. For example, only 5/12 of the throwers in the World Cup final were European.

The level of Europe is greatly affected by the difficulties of many top names in recent years. Germany’s Johannes VetterEstonia Magnus Kirtin and Poland by Marcin Krukowski the season has been ragged, and you won’t see them at the European Championships at all. The statistical runner-up, who withdrew due to a side injury, did not make it to the European Championships either Oliver Helander (89,83).

Olympic champion and reigning European champion Thomas Röhler has not broken the 80-meter barrier once this season. His EC career ended with qualification. To reach the European Championship final, the silver medalist, Germany by Andreas Hofmann summer has been tight after a promising early season.

Also known as a good prize thrower in Sweden Kim Amb is missing.

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Looking at the average of the top three throws, Vadlejch and Weber are clear favorites to win. The question mark for Weber is that he does not have a single prize medal in his account. The man is now expected to win a medal, which makes the situation stressful for him.

Looking at the average of the best three results, Andreas Hofmann is the third best, but his previous 80m puncture was on June 6th.

Instead of Hofmann, the bronze medalist favorite is Lassi Etelätalo. The javelin on the ground favors Etelätalo, which has always placed in the top eight and twice in the fourth place.

The 34-year-old thrower is a fierce competitor, which has been seen again this summer at the World Championships and the Kaleva Games. At the World Championships he was the third best European and at the Kaleva Games he threw his best of the season 84.62.

In terms of a medal, Etelätalo’s only realistic threat is a two-time prize winner Vitezslav Vesely. The 39-year-old champion, who missed the World Championships, threw his season’s best 85.97 at the end of July. Tero Pitkämäki Vesely, who is pleased with the number of prestigious competition medals, has timed his fitness correctly.

However, there are few medal favorites. There are no fewer than four first-timers in the prestigious competitions in the finals. In addition, the other two throwers only have finals experience once.

The setting is as if it was created for Etelätalo, which is chasing its first prestigious medal. This opportunity cannot be missed.