Andrus Värnik

Andrus Värnik (born September 27, 1977 in Antsla) is an Estonian javelin thrower. His personal best set in 2003, 87.83 metres, is also the Estonian record.

Värnik won his first international medal, a silver medal, in the 2003 World Championships in Athletics, throwing 85.17 m. The next year he finished 6th in the javelin contest at the Olympic Games with the result 83.25 m.

With 87.17 m he won a surprise gold medal at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics ahead of Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen, defending World Champion Sergey Makarov and home favorite Tero Pitkämäki.

In 2007, Värnik participated as a celebrity contestant on the second season of Tantsud tähtedega, an Estonian version of Strictly Come Dancing. His professional dancing partner was Kaisa Oja.

On 16 January 2010 Värnik was caught drunk driving in Tallinn. He was banned from driving for 4 months and fined 12,000 kroons.^[1]

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Notes
Representing Estonia
1996	World Junior Championships	Sydney, Australia	23rd (q)	56.94 m
1999	European U23 Championships	Gothenburg, Sweden	14th	63.04 m
2000	Olympic Games	Sydney, Australia	15th	81.34 m
2002	European Championships	Munich, Germany	21st	75.66 m
2003	World Championships	Paris, France	2nd	85.17 m
2004	Olympic Games	Athens Olympic Stadium, Greece	6th	83.25 m
2005	World Championships	Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Finland	1st	87.17 m

^ "Andrus Värnik purupurjus autoroolis" (in Estonian). Elu24.ee. Retrieved 11 May 2010.

Awards
Preceded by Andrus Veerpalu	Estonian Sportsman of the Year 2003	Succeeded by Jüri Jaanson
Preceded by Jüri Jaanson	Estonian Sportsman of the Year 2005	Succeeded by Andrus Veerpalu

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