Anlezark geared to give best shot at Olympic gold
- Cameron Leslie
- 15th August 2008
Justin Anlezark.
TOOWOOMBA shot putter Justin Anlezark knows he must go somewhere he has never been before if he is to stand on the medal dais at the Beijing Olympics tonight.
By his own admission, Anlezark is aiming to only better the seventh place finish he recorded at the 2004 Athens Olympics, when he faces the big men of athletics in the Bird's Nest Stadium.
While a throw of 21.16 metres, not out of reach for the fast-improving Anlezark, won gold in Athens, the Toowoomba thrower believes a throw beyond that mark will be needed just to win bronze.
“I think it is going to take something very big to win gold,” Anlezark said.
“Athens was tough because we weren't in the main stadium and we were out in the backblocks and there wasn't any atmosphere.
“Here, we're competing in the main stadium and that will push us along a bit more.
“I think it's going to take a throw of about 21.30 (metres) to get bronze and I'm predicting the winning throw to be somewhere closer to 22 metres - probably about 21.80.”
The three Americans, Adam Nelson, Reese Hoffa and Christian Cantwell shape as the biggest threats for the Olympic title.
Nelson would dearly love to leave Beijing with a gold medal around his neck, having won silver at the last two Olympics.
Belarusian Andrey Mikhnevich also shapes as a threat, with rumours suggesting he has thrown about 22 metres in the lead-up to the Games.
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