The European javelin bronze medalist’s misfortunes continue. Etelätalo, 35, was injured during a squat exercise in the weight room.
Urheilu reported two weeks ago that the guarantor of the prestigious championships Lassi Etelätalo suffers from an irritated fat pad in the heel of the supporting leg.
Etelätalo estimated at that time that he could return to compete in the Joensuu GP organized on July 5. Since then, he has had to abandon the plan in question due to another setback.
The 35-year-old Etelätalo says that he was injured during a squat exercise in the weight room, where his gluteal muscle was torn. The injury is not in the supporting leg like the heel.
– The general estimate for the healing of these injuries is 3–5 weeks, Etelätalo says and signs that he will probably be seen with a number tag on his chest at the Kaleva Games at the earliest.
The Kaleva competitions are held in Lahti in the last week of July.
Time to get better for the World Cup
It is not the first time Etelätalo is in a situation where the start of the season actually stretches into late summer. Of course, he has two competitions in his account from the turn of May-June, the results of which were 78.92 and 79.93.
Etelätalo is an eligible athlete for the World Championships in Budapest, as he has a result that exceeds the World Championship limit from August of last year: 86.44. Because Joensuu Kataja’s thrower won European Championship bronze in Munich.
Etelätalo is known as an iron-nerved thrower whose breakthrough occurred in 2014. At that time, he made his debut in a prestigious competition, the European Championships in Zurich, and immediately finished fourth.
Seven of the ten best results in Etelätalo’s career are from value races, when the three Kaleva races are included.
This year’s Kaleva Games qualifier will be held on July 28 and the final a day later. The World Cup qualifier will be held in Budapest only on Friday, August 25, and the final on Sunday of the same week.
– However, it is a month from the Kalevan Games to the World Championships. If I get my body in shape, the result can come quickly. I don’t doubt it, Etelätalo says.
Quiet level
Etelätalo’s World Cup selection is on the safe side in the sense that the threats are far behind for now.
The 79.93 thrown by Etelätalo in Hengelo on June 4 is enough to place third in the domestic summer statistics by Oliver Helander (87.32) and Toni Kuuselan (82,42) behind.
Since Etelätalo has broken the WC limit and is the reigning EC bronze medalist and has proven himself to be a reliable value thrower, passing him in the WC selections requires results that are well over 80 meters from the challengers.
– Summer is still young. This is plenty of time for everyone to slap screens on the counter. The level will definitely improve, Etelätalo says.
He has a clear view of his own situation.
– Of course, you have to be in reasonable shape to even want to go to the World Championships. No amount of walking pace is enough.