Vadlejch Downplays Favorite Status, Braces for Potential Storm at World Athletics Championships
TOKYO – Javelin thrower Jakub Vadlejch is not considering himself a frontrunner at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, despite a strong showing at the previous Olympics. He acknowledged not even ranking among the favorites four years prior,when the National Stadium was still referred to as the Olympic Stadium.
Vadlejch is preparing for a challenging competition format – races on consecutive days – which demands peak performance. He recalled his fifth-place finish at the prior Olympics ultimately securing a silver medal, and a memorable bronze-medal win with Vรญtฤzslav Veselรฝ. He emphasized the need to surpass his seasonal best to remain competitive, referencing the 2019 Doha World Championships where even a throw of 82.5 meters only secured fourth place.
Adding to the challenge, a critically important whether shift is forecast for Thursday, predicting a sharp temperature drop, heavy rain, and thunderstorms after Wednesday’s heat. “I don’t look at the forecast completely,” Vadlejch said with a smile, “But if the weather changes like this, it can also play a role. And if it is indeed rebuke, we will probably catch some lightning.”
The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo run through [Date – based on “Tue Sep 16 2025” – needs completion], with Vadlejch’s event scheduled for [date/Time – needs completion]. The competition will test athletes’ ability to adapt to changing conditions and maintain peak performance under pressure, potentially impacting medal contention.
