Mikko HirvonenThe best Finnish javelin thrower even with an ear infection
2009 World Championships in Athletics in BerlinTero Pitkämäki was relatively happy about his fifth place finish (the best for the Finnish team) in the javelin throw finals at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin.
”It was a good result when you think about where I started from,” said Pitkämäki, who competed with a high fever and ear infection.
”Altogether, preparation went very well. In Tuesday before the qualifier I had a throwing exercise which went really well. My expectations increased and I felt my condition was sharp," said Pitkämäki.
A day before the qualifier Tero came down with a fever, which later turned out to be an ear infection. The fever and ensuing muscle cramps took the sharpness from his throws already before Friday’s qualifier. Despite these obstacles, Tero reached the finals together with the whole Finnish javelin team. As a result of the infection, Pitkämäki’s eardrum had to be punctured the night before the finals.
”I had no expectations going into the qualifiers. Entering the finals, I decided to consider the situation again after every throw,” said Pitkämäki.
Tero’s competition calendar did not allow for much recovery time after the World Championships, because there would have been Golden League Athletics event in Zurich and the javelin competition of the Finland–Sweden athletics international.
“I would have liked to participate them, too, but my condition was too weak,” says Pitkämäki.
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