PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Keshorn Walcott is still smarting from his World Championship disappointment three years ago and is determined to compensate for it at this month’s edition in Beijing.
In his World Championship debut in Moscow two years ago, the reigning Olympic champion failed to even reach the final after a weak performance in the preliminary round.
The 22-year-old is in good form, coming off his success at last month at the Pan American Games in Toronto, and is now setting his sights on a top three finish at the August 22-30 showpiece at the Bird’s Nest Stadium.
“This year I had it in the back of my mind, knowing that I did [badly] at the World Championships in Moscow,” Walcott told the Trinidad Express newspaper.
“I want to try to get a better performance. Especially this being the year before the Olympics, I’m really trying to go out there and get in the mix with the World Championships.”
Walcott shot to stardom in 2012 when he threw 84.58 metres to become the first Black and the youngest athlete to win javelin gold.
Having struggled with injury since, things had been relatively quiet until recently when two performances once again propelled him into the spotlight again.
He threw a personal best and new national record of 90.16m at the Diamond League meet in Lausanne last month before also winning gold at Pan Am.
Despite his surge in form, Walcott acknowledged that winning World Championship would be a battle, especially repeating the feat of throwing over 90m.
“It’s going to be quite difficult to do that because it’s different situations. It’s about confidence in yourself, knowing I’ve already thrown 90 metres, knowing I can do it again,” he said.
“But going into any competition, you’re trying not to think about the distance. You’re trying to think about executing your technique and executing the throw, and I’m sure better distances will come.”
