It ain’t over until the short spearchucker sings
Contrary to some reports, Jan Zelezny has not yet retired from the javelin game. At age 40, he still has some good throws left in him — maybe even another M40 world record. The Cape Times of Cape Town, South Africa, reports: “Three-time Olympic javelin champion and former world-record holder Jan Zelezny will retire next month. The Czech legend’s manager, Alfonz Juck, yesterday said Zelezny, 40, would compete in the IAAF world athletics final in Stuttgart, Germany, on Saturday, September 9, then make his final domestic appearance in Mlada Boleslav on September 19 and bow out after a meeting in Yokohama, Japan, five days later.”
Yeah, right.
Not only is this report wrong about Jan being the “former world-record holder” (he’s still The Man, with his 98.48 | 323-1 from 1996 still on the books), but it goes beyond the facts in insisting he’ll quit after Yokohama.
That’s his elite/professional career. Not necessarily his athletic career.
Jan has a javelin jones. He’s addicted to the spear. And even if he dials his intensity down a notch, I predict we’ll be seeing him throw in the M50, M60 and perhaps later age groups.
And why not?
We’re allowed to do so, my friends.
