About Andreas Thorkildsen
Andreas Thorkildsen is a Norwegian javelin thrower, born in Kristiansand. He is the first male javelin thrower in history to be European champion, World champion and Olympic champion. He was Olympic champion in 2004 and 2008, European champion in 2006 and 2010, World Champion in 2009 as well as a three-time silver medalist at the World championships in 2005, 2007 and in 2011. He set a world junior record in 2001. He has a personal best of 91.59 m set in 2006.
Career Highlights:
- He established numerous national boys' records as a teenager. In 1996 he set a national record for the 14 years' class (53.82 m), in 1998 for the 16 years' class (61.57 m), in 1999 for the 17 years' class (72.11 m), and in 2000 a record for the 18 years' class (77.48 m).In 1999 he finished seventh at the European Junior Championships.
- In 2000 Thorkildsen took his first medal at the Norwegian championships, finishing in silver medal position behind Ronny Nilsen.His form earned Thorkildsen his first call-up to the Norwegian European Cup team. In October he participated at the World Junior Championships and received a silver medal behind winner Gerhardus Pienaar from South Africa.
- Participating in his second European Junior Championships, he won a silver medal behind Aleksandr Ivanov.
- The most important event of 2005 was the World Championships. The preparations for this event looked promising for Thorkildsen as he improved his personal best to 86.82 metres in Kuortane in June, beating the Norwegian record of Pål Arne Fagernes
- The World Championships, Pitkämäki was still in on the world top list ahead of Makarov and Thorkildsen, who in turn was ahead of Breaux Greer by one centimetre.
- He became the first male javelin thrower in history to hold all three titles of European champion, World champion and Olympic champion, winning IAAF World Championship in Berlin with 89.59m. Thorkildsen also has the season's leading throw, with 91.28m. achieved in Zürich on 28 August.
Seasonal bests by year:
- 1998 - 61.57
- 1999 - 72.11
- 2000 - 77.48
- 2001 - 83.87
- 2002 - 83.43
- 2003 - 85.72
- 2004 - 86.50
- 2005 - 89.60
- 2006 - 91.59
- 2007 - 89.51
- 2008 - 90.57
- 2009 - 91.28
- 2010 - 90.37
- 2011 - 90.61
- 2012 - 84.72
- 2013 - 84.64
- 2014 - 80.52