Competing Against the World's Best Helped Make Thomas Rohler Olympic Champion

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

In another installment of the IAAF My Greatest Challenge Series, Steve Landells spoke to Olympic javelin champion Thomas Rohler of Germany about the challenges he has faced in his athletics career.

For Rohler, it seemed to be a mental one when he first began competing internationally. For the first time he was competing against his heroes. Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway and Tero Pitkamaki of Finland have numerous global medals between them and Rohler felt intimidated the first time he took the field with them.

Over time, Rohler adjusted and learned from them, watching how they competed to find out what helped make them great. Eventually that observation paid off, as it was not long before he began to beat them in competition. He now considers them friends.

On the more physical end, Rohler is thankful for his stable training environment. However, that environment was something he had to build piece by piece. Rohler believes the most important part to that process has been his coach, Harro Schwuchow, whom he has worked with for more than three years now.

In all, Rohler does not regret any of the hard work he has put in to win Olympic gold. Compared to his other opportunities, he believes he made the right choice in becoming an elite athlete.