English
When Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage arrived in Rome this week, he was already in the form of his life.
The Sri Lankan javelin star had thrown three of the four furthest throws in the world this year, including a world-leading personal best of 89.37m.
Yet at the Stadio Olimpico, the 24-year-old took it to the next level.
Pathirage was chasing his first Diamond League win in Rome, having finished second behind Anderson Peters a few days earlier in Rabat.
He ended up doing so in style, landing two huge throws in the first two rounds of the competition.
The first came down at 84.49m, giving the Sri Lankan an early lead, but it was his second effort that would stick in the memory.
The Wanda Diamond League’s Official Timekeeper OMEGA recorded the throw at 92.62m, a new world lead and meeting record and the second-furthest ever recorded by an Asian athlete.
It was the first time Pathirage had ever cleared the elusive 90-metre barrier and the first time he had ever taken the maximum of eight points at a Diamond League meeting.
“Even though I had only two valid attempts today, I am very stable mentally,” he said.
“It was very hot in Rabat and the weather in Rome feelsgood to throw further than at the last competition. Winning today feels like a Sri Lankan festival!”
