Thomas Rohler offered Germany a crumb of comfort after their football team lost to Brazil in the Olympic final by winning his country’s first javelin gold in 80 years.
The unheralded Rohler launched a best of 90.30 metres for Germany’s first in the javelin since Gerhard Stock won in the 1936 Games in Berlin.
Kenya’s reigning world champion Julius Yego took silver with 88.24m, while defending Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago claimed bronze with 85.83m in a high-class competition.
“We saw the end of the game in the warm-up area,” Rohler said of the football game, with Neymar scoring the decisive penalty as Brazil beat Germany 5-4 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
“I’m sorry for Germany but I’m happy for Brazil.”
Turning to the competition, Rohler said: “I woke up with the right feeling this morning.”
“I was feeling maybe it’s the right day for me. I was quite excited to throw. I know how to throw 90m and I did it today – 90.30 is really far.”
“We live for challenges in javelin. That is why I love the sport.”
Rohler added: “I think after this year and after last year, we all knew that it’s going to be a competition on a really high level.”
“Everybody is cheering at home. Everybody is awake. I mean, it’s three at night (3am) in Germany. Hopefully, (they’re) very awake now and just cheering for me.”