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Arsi Harju

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Arsi Harju
Personal information
Full nameArsi Ilari Harju
Born (1974-03-18) 18 March 1974 (age 50)
Kurikka, Finland
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Shot put
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Edmonton Shot put
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Valencia Shot put

Arsi Ilari Harju (born 18 March 1974) is a Finnish former track and field athlete who competed in the shot put. He won the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He set his personal best of 21.39 in the qualification. In the final, Harju secured the gold medal with his second round shot put of 21.29, beating silver medalist Adam Nelson by 8 cm and bronze medalist John Godina by 9 cm. In 2000, Harju was also named the Finnish Sports Personality of the Year.

Harju was the 12th member to be inducted into the 20 metre club after achieving the distance of 20.16 on 2 March 1997, in Tampere, Finland.

Harju was a patron of UNICEF School walks in Finland.

Harju retired from international competitions after the season 2005. He competed again from 2011 to 2012 marking 18.48 as his season best in both years.

Major achievements

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Year Competition Venue Position Notes
Representing  Finland
1992 World Junior Championships Seoul, South Korea 11th 16.94 m
1993 Finnish Indoor Championships Kuopio, Finland 3rd 17.99 (FR19)
1995 Finnish Outdoor Championships Lapua, Finland 3rd 19.46
1996 Finnish Outdoor Championships Tampere, Finland 1st 19.46
1997 Finnish Outdoor Championships Lappeenranta, Finland 2nd 19.72
Finnish Indoor Championships Rovaniemi, Finland 2nd 19.77
1998 Finnish Outdoor Championships Oulu, Finland 1st 21.04
Finnish Indoor Championships Tampere, Finland 2nd 20.25
European Indoor Championships Valencia, Spain 3rd 20.53
1999 Finnish Indoor Championships Jyväskylä, Finland 1st 19.52
2000 Finnish Outdoor Championships Lahti, Finland 1st 20.84
Summer Olympics Sydney, Australia 1st 21.29
2001 World Championships Edmonton, Canada 3rd 20.93
2002 European Championships Munich, Germany 4th 20.47
2003 World Indoor Championships Birmingham, England 4th 20.96
Finnish Indoor Championships Kuortane, Finland 2nd 20.37
2005 Finnish Outdoor Championships Pori, Finland 2nd 20.21

References

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