Olsen comes up big
OLYMPIA – At the birthplace of the ancient Olympics, Joachim Olsen established himself as a name for the ages Wednesday.
The medal was bronze; the feeling was pure gold.
The former University of Idaho thrower continued his knack of showing up big in the biggest of competitions by taking third in the shot put, staged in Ancient Olympia at the site of the original Games which began 28 centuries ago.
“This was,” said the 27-year-old Dane, “an amazing experience.”
For all but the American favorites, perhaps.
One, Reese Hoffa, didn’t make it out of the morning qualifying rounds. Another, John Godina, failed to make the eight-man final. And gold medal favorite Adam Nelson lost out on that distinction when Ukrainian Yuriy Belonog came up with a last-round throw of 69 feet, 5 1/4 inches – matching Nelson’s only fair mark and thus winning on the basis of a superior next-best throw.
Behind them came Olsen, who has had his international ups and downs since leaving Idaho after the 2002 season but was nothing but up this time.
He opened with a throws of 67-2 and 67-2 3/4 , then hit his medal-winner in the third round with a heave of 69-1 1/2 . He followed with a 68-2 1/4 put before fouling his final two attempts. Only two other competitors topped 67 feet, as many of the top throwers fell well short of their bests.
“There is something about the Olympic Games and it’s very difficult to compete and perform at a high level,” said Nelson. “There is a lot of pressure and everyone is gunning for it and there are situations where people throw far or further than they normally do, and others that don’t.”
But Olsen has always seemed to thrive in those situations.
At Idaho, he never failed to finish in the top three in an NCAA competition, winning the 2000 outdoor title. In four of those seven meets, he produced his longest throws of the year.
“I just really like it when the pressure is on,” he said back in 2002. “That’s when it’s fun. The point is to throw well when it counts.”
He learned his Olympic lesson in 2000 when he failed to make the final despite having the world’s eighth-best mark going in.
“You think you’re prepared, but unless you’ve been there before, you have no idea, ” he said. “It is so easy to lose focus. When you walk into the stadium and 100,000 people go nuts, it feels a little like ‘Gladiator.’ It’s a little different than competing in the Kibbie Dome for 500 people.”
Though there weren’t 100,000 spectators on hand Wednesday, the atmosphere for the first track and field event of the 2004 Games was stirring.
Though the shot put wasn’t part of the original Olympic menu, Athens organizers decided to hold this event were the first Games were staged 2,780 years ago – and last held in 393 A.D., when Roman emperor Theodosius abolished them as a pagan practice. A large dirt oval remains, surrounded by grassy knolls and forests of pine and laurel, with ancient columns and ruins nearby. Marks were recorded on hand-operated scoreboards.
“I think none of the guys will forget this day,” said Olsen. “I know some will be disappointed with their placing, but this was an amazing experience.”
Since leaving Idaho, Olsen’s best previous international showing was a bronze medal at the 2003 World Indoor Championships in Budapest. But he showed his readiness for the Olympic year by upping his personal best to 70-11 3/4 during the indoor season at a meet in Tallinn, Estonia.
“I am very pleased with what I have done today,” he said. “The atmosphere was great and the people were really into it.”
Nelson was into it, too – animatedly protesting the foul call on his final attempt until officials showed him a video replay that confirmed the violation.