Lassi Etelatalo: All you need to know about Neeraj Chopra's opponent in the men's javelin final at Paris Olympics 2024
Lassi Etelatalo, a seasoned javelin thrower from Finland, will be one of Neeraj Chopra’s top competitors at the Paris Olympics 2024 finals. Born on April 30, 1988, the 36-year-old athlete has often come close to major podium finishes without securing a top spot.
Etelatalo first garnered attention in 2014 when he finished just outside the medals, securing fourth place at the European Championships. This trend continued at the 2019 World Championships, where he again finished fourth, narrowly missing out on a medal.
Making his Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, Etelatalo finished eighth with a throw of 83.28 meters. He followed up this performance with a sixth-place finish at the 2022 World Championships.
However, 2022 also marked a turning point in his career as he clinched his first major international medal— a bronze at the European Championships with a personal best throw of 86.44 meters.
At the Paris Olympics 2024, Etelatalo's qualification for the finals was a close call. He threw 82.91 meters in the qualification round, falling short of the automatic qualification mark of 84 meters.
Despite this, he secured the final spot in the top 12, making the cut for the finals. Currently ranked World No. 16, Etelatalo enters the final as an experienced competitor, hoping to leverage his years of experience to secure an Olympic medal finally.
Lassi Etelatalo's Medals and Achievements
European Championships:
- Munich 2022 - Bronze
Lassi Etelatalo's World Ranking
Lassi Etelatalo is currently the World No. 16 javelin thrower.
Lassi Etelatalo vs Neeraj Chopra: Head-to-head
Lassi Etelatalo and Neeraj Chopra have competed against each other nine times, with Chopra winning all their clashes. Their most recent encounter before the Paris 2024 qualification was at the Paavo Nurmi Games in June, where Neeraj finished first with a throw of 85.97m. Lassi secured the eighth spot with a 79.35m throw.
Lassi Etelatalo's Recent Records
- Paris Olympics 2024 Qualification, August 2024 - 82.91m (6th)
- Motonet GP Joensuu Final, July 2024 - 77.33m (4th)
- Finnish Championships Final, June 2024 - 84.67m (1st)
- Finnish Championships Qualification, June 2024 - 74.39m (9th)
- Paavo Nurmi Games Final, June 2024 - 79.35m (8th)
Lassi Etelatalo's Personal Best and Season Best
Personal Best - 86.44m (European Athletics Championships Final, August 2022)
Season Best - 84.67m (Finnish Championships Final, June 2024)
Lassi Etelatalo vs Neeraj Chopra Match Details
Lassi Etelatalo and Neeraj Chopra will feature at the men's javelin throw final event at Stade de France on August 8 at 11:55 PM IST.