It was exactly 100 days ago that the Swede Patrik Bodén had surprisingly entered the world record table with a throw of 89.10. The rules for the design of the spear had been revised a few years earlier to shorten the throwing lengths, but even more so to get clear impacts where the spear would land with the tip first. Bodén was in attendance at the DN Gala and he was to face formidable opposition in the form of Briton Steve Backley. His annual best was just over half a meter behind Bodén’s and was longer than the world record that applied before the start of the season. Conditions at the stadium were favorable with pleasant summer heat and sunshine. Many hoped for a thrilling duel between the two javelin throwers who have achieved the best results in the world since the rule change. The competition started with a veritable punch-up. The well-traveled Briton scored a dream hit in the first inning. The yellow spear – a Nordic Champion made in Arvidsjaur – landed to the cheers of the large crowd far beyond the 85-meter line! Could it threaten Bodén’s world record? A breathless wait followed and then Backley’s hands were seen to be raised to the sky as he overheard the officials’ internal reporting of the throwing distance – 89.58 was announced and Stockholm Stadium had once again become the scene of a world record in javelin throwing! Next to throw was Patrik Bodén, the dethroned world record holder! An overwhelming task. Backley waived further throwing and defeated Bodén by exactly nine meters.
Steve Backley, together with Seppo Räty from Finland and Jan Zelezny from the Czech Republic, dominated the world javelin market for a long time. At almost every international championship, it was these three who claimed the medals. For Backley, it was two silver and one bronze at the Olympics, two silver at the World Championships and as many as FOUR golds at European Championships – in the latter case, it was a tangent of a former greatness in javelin throwing who also noted a world record at Stockholm Stadium: Latvian Jānis Lūsis! In the former British Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Games is a competition held every four years and is highly valued. Backley brought home three golds and one silver. For his outstanding achievements as a sportsman, Steve Backley has been honored in his home country with Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire(OBE).
