Oliver Helander: All you need to know about Neeraj Chopra's opponent in the men's javelin final at Paris Olympics 2024

Finland's Oliver Helander is one of the key contenders standing between India's Neeraj Chopra and another Olympic gold at the Paris Olympics 2024 finals.

Oliver Helander was born on January 1, 1997, in Finland. At 27 years old, Helander has gradually carved out a place for himself on the international stage. Helander's first major international tournament was the European Championships in 2018. It was a tough introduction to the big leagues, as he finished 16th in the qualification round.

Helander's Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics didn't go as planned. He finished 17th in the qualification round with a throw of 78.81 meters, a performance that was below his capabilities. His best international result came recently, with a third-place finish at the European Championships in June 2024. He threw an impressive 85.75 meters.

Currently ranked World No. 4, he has upped his game considerably. Despite his inconsistency, his ability to deliver big throws on crucial days makes him an opponent to watch out for.

In the qualification round at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Helander threw 83.81 meters. While he didn't breach the automatic qualifying standard of 84 meters, his throw was enough to rank him 10th overall among the top 12, securing his berth in the finals.

Oliver Helander's Medals and Achievements

European Championships

Rome 2024 - Bronze

Oliver Helander's World Ranking

Oliver Helander is currently the World No. 4 javelin thrower.

Oliver Helander vs Neeraj Chopra: Head-to-Head

Oliver Helander and Neeraj Chopra competed against each other ten times, with Chopra leading with nine victories to Helander’s one. Their most recent encounter was at the Paavo Nurmi Games in June 2024, where Neeraj Chopra finished first to secure a gold medal with an 85.97m throw, whereas Helander threw 83.96m to finish third.

Oliver Helander's Recent Records

Paris Olympics 2024 Qualification, August 2024 - 83.81m (5th)
Motonet GP Joensuu Final, July 2024 - 76.38m (6th)
Finnish Championships Final, June 2024 - 81.53m (3rd)
Finnish Championships Qualification, June 2024 - 77.68m (1st)
Paavo Nurmi Games Final, June 2024 - 83.96m (3rd)

Oliver Helander's Personal Best and Season Best

Personal Best - 89.83m (Paavo Nurmi Games, June 2022)

Season Best - 85.75m (European Athletics Championships Final, June 2024)

Oliver Helander vs Neeraj Chopra Match Details

Oliver Helander and Neeraj Chopra will feature at the men's javelin throw final event on August 8 at Stade de France which starts at 11:55 pm IST.