Comeback for Johannes Vetter – ready for #mission100

After having to spend nearly a year away, javelin thrower Johannes Vetter is now eagerly awaiting his comeback.

This marks the end of a difficult period for the exceptional athlete and German record holder, who in 2020 achieved the second longest ever javelin throw at 97.76 metres after world record holder Jan Zelezny (98.48 metres) and in 2021 continued his winning streak to 19 victories. As the top favourite, Vetter then missed out on his anticipated medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. His strong bracing of his feet during the throw meant that he struggled in the wet weather conditions. The Olympic dream was gone, or at least delayed. At his last and only competition of 2022, the Dresden native competed in his adopted home of Offenburg, at the URSAPHARM Speerwurfmeeting in May 2022. Inflammation in the shoulder of his throwing arm then forced him to miss the world championships in Eugene (USA) and subsequently also the European title competition in Munich in August.

But rather than decrying missed chances and opportunities, the top athlete instead continued focused, meticulous work with his trainer Boris Obergföll and made the most of this peaceful, competition-free period away from elite sport and constant travel to exercise his duties as a local politician on the Offenburg municipal council. This commitment is very important to him and close to his heart, and provides grounding and balance to his life constantly in the limelight in the world of elite sport.

In his personal trainer Boris Obergföll, who is also the national javelin trainer, Vetter has a perfect, trusted partner with whom he can continue to hone and optimise his technique to keep pushing his performance limits. The pair are currently at a training camp in Belek, Turkey, where they also completed initial, intensive training from mid to late March. They are adding the final touches for the upcoming season and the return to competition mode. The next goals have already been set: the world championships in Budapest at the end of August and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

We wish Johannes Vetter all the best for his next steps back to the top, and an injury-free season. And who knows, maybe the really big goal of #mission100 will be cracked soon – the first thrower to exceed the 100 metre mark. There is a good chance it could be him. We believe in him and are crossing our fingers.
Come back stronger, Jojo!