Recent headline-grabbing performances by javelin throwers from Kenya, Egypt and Trinidad & Tobago along with the more traditional theme of “optimising performance” were the hot topics for coaches attending the 3rd World Javelin Conference at Finland’s Kuortane Olympic Training Center from 12-13 November.
The conference, the fourth and final event of the 2014 European Athletics Coaching Summit Series, attracted 91 participants from 20 countries to Kuortane, which is widely known as a centre for javelin throwing expertise thanks to its designation as an IAAF Accredited Training Centre. The Centre features sophisticated performance testing labs and famous coaches like Kari Ihalainen, Tapio Korjus and recent rising star, Petteri Piironen, whose athletes have won numerous European, World and Olympic medals.
The conference programme included seven lectures, three training demonstrations and two panel discussions.
Among the speakers was African and Commonwealth Games champion Julius Yego of Kenya, one the brightest examples of star throwers from countries with little or no javelin tradition threatening the established order in the event.
Yego described his rise to the top, which started with him becoming interested after seeing videos of top throwers Jan Zelezny (CZE) and Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR).
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Statistics specialist Mirko Jalava introduced inclusive medal tables and top-lists confirming the globalisation trend in the event.
One of the most outstanding sessions was by gymnastics coach Tiina Vilenius and Piironen, who has worked with both Yego and 2008 world junior silver medallist Ihab el-Sayed of Egypt. Together they demonstrated specific gymnastic related exercises for javelin throwers.
Other speakers included Germany’s Frank Lehmann, who discussed biomechanical issues of javelin throwing performance and the scientific support system for German athletes, and US Olympian Duncan Attwood, who spoke about javelin flight and training devices to improve athletes’ throwing skills.
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1999 world champion Aki Parviainen of Finland, who coaches 2014 European Champion Antti Ruuskanen, gave a presentation about the typical career path of a Finnish javelin thrower and how to peak for the major events of the season. Parviainen continued with a training demonstration that included technical hints and recommendations for throwers.
The conference also touched on other throwing events with a demonstration by European champion Olli-Pekka Karjalainen of Finland on developing strength training for the hammer throw.
Each year the conferences in the European Athletics Coaching Summit Series bring together coaches, sport scientists and top athletes at venues with specific expertise or a strong tradition in a particular event. European Athletics’ support for the series includes scholarships that Member Federations can apply to sending coaches to participate in the conferences.
Information on next year’s programme, the seventh year of the series, will be available in January 2015.