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At this year's Paris Olympics, Neeraj Chopra finds himself up against a formidable new challenger. On Sunday, February 25, at the German Winter Throwing Championships in Halle, 19-year-old German athlete Max Dehning achieved a groundbreaking 90.20m javelin throw. This feat positioned Dehning as the youngest male athlete to ever surpass the 90m milestone in the sport's history, notably achieving this in an Olympic year.
Max Dehning improves personal best
Dehning significantly improved his personal best from 78.07m just the day before, capturing the attention of the athletics world. As a two-time U20 World Championships silver medalist, he made this remarkable throw on his first attempt, increasing his previous best by over 12m.
His throw of 90.20m ranks him 22nd in the all-time list of the men's javelin throw, joining the ranks within a prestigious group led by the iconic Jan Zelezny's 98.48m record.
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The moment the javelin left Dehning's hand during the competition, his coach immediately recognized the significance of the throw.
Demonstrating consistency, Dehning's second attempt reached 85.45m, confirming his capability to compete with the elite in the sport. Nico Cyclist was the runner-up in the event, with his best throw being 76.56m.
Dehning's performance not only secures him a spot at the Paris Olympics, surpassing the 83m qualifying standard, but it also signals his readiness to contend with top athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Jakub Vadlejch, and Anderson Peters, who have yet to begin their seasons.
A new javelin star is born
Germany's distinguished history in javelin throw enhances the significance of Dehning's achievement. The country has produced numerous renowned javelin throwers, including Johannes Vetter, who holds the second-longest throw globally at 97.76m. Alongside Vetter, Thomas Rohler, Raymond Hecht, and Andreas Hofmann are among the top 10 all-time best distances, showcasing Germany's legacy in the sport.
Dehning's success is a testament to this legacy, highlighting him as the latest prodigy in a lineage of German javelin throwers who have made significant impacts on the sport.
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