In a stunning display of athleticism, 25-year-old Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan claimed the women’s javelin world title in a nail-biting finish on Friday, leaving spectators in awe with her final throw.
Kitaguchi’s final throw was a breathtaking spectacle, launching the javelin an astounding 66.73 meters. Her incredible performance shattered the hopes of Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado, a 32-year-old Colombian who had led from the very first round with a throw of 65.47 meters and appeared to be on the cusp of a remarkable victory.
Australia’s Mackenzie Little also clinched a spot on the podium with her last throw, securing the bronze medal with a distance of 63.38 meters.
Kitaguchi, who may have the chance to defend her title on home turf in Tokyo in two years, believes her victory has the potential to elevate the popularity of javelin in Japan, where the sport has traditionally been less recognized.
“Javelin is not a very popular event in Japan, but I think it’s becoming more and more popular. Before, nobody knew about this event, but now that I’ve won gold, I believe it will gain more popularity,” she expressed.
Reflecting on her triumph, Kitaguchi shared that her Czech coach, David Sekerak, was passionately motivating her from the stands in Budapest, saying he was “more or less screaming at me.” She added, “But I think everything just came together in the last attempt, and it was great.”
“At the beginning, I thought that I would be crying, but now, I just feel the happiness,” she said with a radiant smile.
