European Athletics (EAA) – News – Thorkildsen withdraws from Monaco Diamond League

Reigning Olympic javelin champion, Andreas Thorkildsen, has not had the best preparation for this year's Games in London, and has just withdrawn from the Monaco Diamond League meeting to be held on Friday.

His last competition was the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki, where he finished in fourth place after sustaining a thigh injury and retiring midway through the final.

“I do not take unnecessary chances before the Olympics,” said Thorkildsen, who met the Norwegian press on Tuesday.

While acknowledging that it's not an ideal situation, he remains cautiously optimistic: “I drive safe. I would really have thrown in Monaco, but I want to be careful.

“Before 2007, I was in a similar situation,” he added. (He took silver with a throw of 88.61)

The 30 year old from Kristiansand has decided on quality training as a substitute for competing in Monaco.

“Physically, I'm at a better level now and I have to work out well, although I still have to be careful of the thigh.”

Interesting discus and pole vault battles on the cards

A mouth-watering discus battle is on the card at Friday's Diamond League Meeting in Monaco, where European champion Sandra Perkovic of Croatia's will take on US Olympic champion Stephanie Brown Trafton and Germany's world and European medallist Nadine Muller.

An equally interesting battle will unfold in the women's pole vault where the Russian star and world record holder Yelena Isinbaeva will take on world champion Fabiana Murer of Brazil and freshly crowned European champion Jirina Ptacnikova of the Czech Republic.

The field also includes former European champion Svetlana Feofanova of Russia, 2009 world champion Anna Rogowska of Poland, along with the national record holders for Great Britain – Holly Bleasdale, Germany – Silke Spiegelburg, and France – Vanessa Boslak.

 European Athletics (EAA) – News