Skip to content
Skip to content
News
The article is more than 10 years old
Men's Javelin

Gold and bronze for javelinists Ruuskanen and Pitkämäki in Zurich

Finns dominated the men’s javelin throw final at the European Athletics Championships, filling three of the top four slots.

Antti Ruuskanen iloitsi 10 000 euron pääpotista
Image: Yle

Antti Ruuskanen has won the European men’s javelin championship. He earned gold at IAAF game in Zurich, Switzerland on Sunday with a score of 88.01, the personal best of his career.

Former world champion Tero Pitkämäki also made it onto the winners’ podium. He placed third with a result of 84.40. Lassi Etelätalo rounded out the Finnish success, coming in fourth at 83.16.

Antti Ruuskanen.
Ruuskanen Image: Lehtikuva

Only last year’s European champ Vítězslav Veselý of the Czech Republic was able to stand up to the Finnish domination. His score of 84.79 pushed him past Pitkämäki for the silver medal. Until Veselý’s last throw, Finland was poised for a medals sweep.

Ruuskanen is the first Finn to win a European javelin title in 40 years. Hannu Siitonen earned the medal in 1974.

Ruuskanen, a 30-year-old from Pielavesi, near Iisalmi in North Savo, won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. He's coached by former world champion Aki Parviainen.