Kanter plans another 'Bolt-like' celebration

Published: Saturday | August 8, 2009


BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP):

Gerd Kanter dominates the discus much like Jamaica's Usain Bolt does the sprints. And if the Estonian wins the world championship title in Berlin, he is ready to imitate Bolt's theatrics again.

In a discipline which rarely catches the limelight, Kanter got the crowd going at the Bird's Nest last year with his celebration of his first Olympic discus title.

He sprinted down the same stretch of track used for the 100 metres, carrying his nation's flag overhead, and when the big man crossed the finish line, he paused to point his fingers at the scoreboard - precisely the "bow and arrow" way Bolt does.

He cannot wait for a repeat.

"I'll try to do it again," Kanter said yesterday said in a teleconference. "I will try to figure out something."

There was one condition, though.

"First, I have to win," he said.

reigning champion

Kanter has a 28-meet winning streak and is unbeaten since July 14, 2008. He is the reigning world and Olympic champion and has the eight top marks of the season.

"I am pretty confident going into the world championships," Kanter said.

He rates Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania and Robert Harting, who will be throwing in his hometown, as his chief rivals.

Qualifying for the discus is set for August 18 with the final one day later.