LetsRun.com's 2009 IAAF Berlin World Championships Preview

Men's Discus Throw - Kanter To Defend #1 World Ranking, Olympic, WC Titles

By LetsRun.com fan Bart van Aalst
August 11, 2009

When: August 19 (finals), 18 (qualifying)
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The discus throw event in Berlin will most likely be a two-man show. Gerd Kanter from Estonia (Beijing Olympic champion and Osaka world champion - shown right in Osaka) has produced the best eight (winning) throws this season and the only one to challenge him is Lithuanian Virgilijus Alekna (Sydney and Athens Olympic champion and Paris and Helsinki world champion). After an early-season Californian tour yielded long throws in Chula Vista, Kanter twice clashed with Alekna in Europe, winning them both (Turnov, 26th May and Réthimno, 20th July).

Kanter leads the world rankings with his 71.64m throw and Alekna landed the discus after 68.94 meters. This will be another clash of two of the most dominant athletes in their event in the last decade. The third athlete on the podium will probably be Robert Harting. The German recently threw 68.10 meters (2nd August) and is in good shape. If he can handle the pressure on his home turf, Harting will definitely delight the crowd in Berlin , but won't be a real threat to Kanter.

Another contender is Piotr Malachowski from Poland, third on this year's list. A few weeks ago, he lost to Kanter in the Berlin Golden League meet, so he knows how to handle the circumstances in the Olympic stadium - just one good throw can get an athlete on the stand. Casey Malone (4th on this year's world rankings) has the best shot for any of the Americans (Jarred Rome and Ian Waltz complete the US team). He'll receive a medal if he can reproduce his Ft. Collins throw of last June.

Predictions

1 Kanter

2 Harting

3 Alekna