Seppo Räty
Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Seppo Henrik Räty |
Nickname(s) | Tohmajärven karhu Tohmajärven tykki |
Nationality | Finnish |
Born | Helsinki, Finland | 27 April 1962
Years active | 1987-1997 |
Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) |
Weight | 102 kg (225 lb) |
Sport | |
Country | ![]() |
Sport | Track and field |
Event(s) | Javelin throw |
Achievements and titles | |
World finals |
|
Olympic finals |
|
Personal best(s) | 90.60 m (1992) |
Medal record
|
Seppo Henrik Räty (born 27 April 1962) is a retired Finnish track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. He was a World Champion, having won gold in 1987. He was also an Olympic medalist (silver in 1992, bronze in 1988 and 1996). He was nicknamed Tohmajärven karhu ("The Bear of Tohmajärvi") and Tohmajärven tykki ("The Cannon of Tohmajärvi").
His personal best throw of 96.96 m, set in 1991, was a world record with the "new javelin" at the time, however this throw was made using a "Nemeth" javelin that was banned by the IAAF later that year and all records made using this javelin were retrospectively deleted. His best throw with the current javelin is 90.60 m, achieved in 1992.
While in the process of winning the 1987 World Championships, Räty was the subject of an often repeated video of failure. Räty tripped on the runway, his javelin throw sticking in the runway about 30 cm short of the foul line. While an embarrassing throw for negative gain, in fact since he had not crossed the line it did not even count as a foul.[1]
After retiring, Räty became a coach. He currently mentors another javelin thrower from Northern Karelia, Oona Sormunen.
Seasonal bests by year[edit]
- 1986 - 81.72
- 1987 - 83.54
- 1988 - 83.26
- 1989 - 83.92
- 1990 - 86.92
- 1991 - 96.96 (modified javelin)
- 1992 - 90.60
- 1993 - 85.68
- 1994 - 85.22
- 1995 - 87.68
- 1996 - 86.98
- 1997 - 82.22
- 1998 - 75.14
- 1999 - 79.47
References[edit]
External links[edit]
![]() ![]() | This biographical article relating to Finnish athletics is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1962 births
- Living people
- People from Tohmajärvi
- Sportspeople from Helsinki
- Finnish male javelin throwers
- Olympic athletes of Finland
- Olympic silver medalists for Finland
- Olympic bronze medalists for Finland
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- World Championships in Athletics athletes for Finland
- World Championships in Athletics medalists
- European Athletics Championships medalists
- Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Finnish athletics biography stubs