Ivan Tikhon and Vadim Devyatovskiy celebrate after winning gold and silver in the men's Hammer Throw (© Getty Images)
Helsinki, FinlandThere are two distinct divisions in the elite of men’s Hammer Throwing at the moment. There is the sphere of Belarussian throwing, and then there is the rest of the world.
As we looked across at the landing sector on the infield this evening during the final of the men’s Hammer Throw at the 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, the evidence was clear. There was a whole line of markers, 8 to be precise, clustered around the 76 – 79m area. Beyond this group, in the far distance, were two further distance indicators which belonged to the Belarussian duo of Vadim Devyatovskiy and defending World champion Ivan Tikhon. It was a vivid pictorial representation of what had been the standing in this event throughout 2004.
Where as Tikhon had come within one centimetre of the World record last month (86.73m) and his compatriot had been consistently in the 80 to 84m range, the rest of the world have struggled to get past 80m. Of the seven other throwers over 80m this summer, only two had gone beyond 81m. True, Olympic champion Koji Murofushi of Japan has been largely injured all the summer competing only once, winning the national championships (76.47), but the two Belarussians who stand one-two in the IAAF World Ranking confirmed the truth in the Olympic stadium, that at the moment they are untouchable.
Did they fear anyone tonight?
Devyatovskiy, a law student, answered for the pair.
“No, we have a very good (Hammer) school (in Minsk) and from there our confidence and dominance is born.”
The winner Ivan Tikhon who retained his title with a championship record throw of 83.89m on his fourth effort to beat Devyatovskiy, who had a best of 82.60 from the third round, is a student as well, training to be a sports coach.
The third round was the only point at which Belarussian hopes looked vulnerable, as Tikhon, with two fouls, faced the prospect of missing out on the top 8-person cut for three further throws. We should never have doubted him. His technique seemed flawless, and especially considering the rain soaked circle, he showed his competitive edge by topping the 80 metre line by 97cm. The next round sealed the competition (83.89), and he cemented a good second half with 81.52 on this last attempt.
“I would have been too ashamed if I had not qualified for the final throws. I just could not let that happen,” commented Tikhon about his third round recovery.
In statistical and reporting terms, Belarus is known as a ‘black hole’ for athletics news and results by the best internationally renowned statisticians and sports writers. As such there remains an air of mystery surrounding much of the Belarussian team despite the fact that they cleaned up so many of the throwing medals at the last World Championships in Paris. There is not much known about the throwing culture of this growing athletics super power. With this backdrop it is not surprising that we should ask why Tikhon and Devyatovskiy, so rarely compete outside their homeland.
“There are two answers for this,” confirmed the double World champion.
“Firstly, you might be surprised to know that throwing the Hammer is a very good way to make a living in our country. President Aleksandr Lukashenko is a great sports fan, especially of athletics and loves the throwing events. Because of this we get very good financial support and backing from the state.”
“Secondly, our coach Sergey Litvinov believes that competing too many times risks breaking the technique built in training, that it is too much risk to take.”
With that confirmation of the name ‘Litvinov’, World Championship history in this event really did complete a 22-year circle tonight, as of course it was in this very stadium that their coach won the inaugural title for the Soviet Union, a feat he was to repeat in 1987.
So a two-time World champion has succeeded in guiding one of his pupils to two golds of his own, and as Tikhon has coaching aspirations too, the future of Belarussian Hammer throwing seems to be secure for President Lukashenko and all of his men.
Chris Turner for the IAAF
