57 mins ago
Rumesh Pathirage Targets Olympic Gold After Dominant Javelin Run
Rumesh Pathirage is a javelin thrower from Sri Lanka.
He won a major new competition by throwing the javelin 91.09 metres.
His first throw was not very far, but he improved with each round.
He reached the final round and then made the winning throw.
This was his 11th victory in 12 international competitions.
He has also won important Diamond League and Commonwealth Games titles.
Pathirage used skills from playing cricket when he learned javelin.
He won $150,000 and now hopes to win an Olympic gold medal for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage won the inaugural World Ultimate Championships with a 91.09-metre throw.
Pathirage has won 11 of his 12 international competitions, including the Diamond League finale and Commonwealth Games.
He overcame a 75.89-metre opening throw to lead the competition with 87.11 metres before the final round.
His 91.09-metre winning throw was his third throw above 90 metres this season.
The former school cricket player won $150,000 and said his next goal is Olympic gold for Sri Lanka.
- Who
- Rumesh Pathirage, a Sri Lankan javelin thrower and former cricket player.
- What
- He won the inaugural World Ultimate Championships with a 91.09-metre throw and declared Olympic gold his next goal.
- Where
- The competition venue is not specified; Pathirage represented Sri Lanka.
- When
- Sunday, during the inaugural World Ultimate Championships.
- Why
- Pathirage wants to achieve Olympic success and bring an athletics gold medal to Sri Lanka.
Key facts
- Winning throw
- 91.09 metres
- International record
- 11 wins in 12 competitions
- Prize money
- $150,000
- Other major titles
- Diamond League finale and Commonwealth Games
- Season achievement
- Three throws above 90 metres
- Olympic ambition
- Pathirage identified Olympic gold for Sri Lanka as his next goal
- Sri Lankan athletics medals
- Sri Lanka has won two Olympic athletics medals, through Duncan White and Susanthika Jayasinghe
Quotes
Rumesh Pathirage
Sri Lankan javelin thrower and World Ultimate Championships winner
“I was playing cricket when I was at school but, after finishing school, I wanted to switch from a team to an individual sport – that’s why I changed from cricket to javelin. I inputted almost all my technique from cricket into the javelin throw because there are some similarities.”
indianexpress.com
“This was my one and only goal… to bring the trophy back to Sri Lanka. I was facing a lot of challenges today, but I was still hoping to bring the trophy home and I’m proud I did it.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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