In his sixth and final attempt, Neeraj Chopra delivered a standout performance at the Athletissima in Lausanne, achieving a season-best throw of 89.49 meters. This impressive mark secured him second place behind Anderson Peters, who topped the event with a remarkable 90.61 meters.
For Neeraj, this event marked a unique moment—competing as the former Olympic champion, following his narrow defeat by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem just two weeks earlier. Despite not being fully satisfied with his performance at the Stade de France, Neeraj decided to participate in the Diamond League meet, as he had not aggravated the persistent groin issue that has troubled him over the years.
Neeraj’s competition at the Athletissima brought a new sense of challenge. He was aiming to maintain his impressive streak of top-three finishes, a record he has upheld since September 2018 in Ostrava. Remarkably, he has not finished lower than fourth in any international event since then.
In Lausanne, Neeraj showcased his resilience and skill. After struggling with earlier throws in the 80-83 meter range, he made a strong comeback with his final attempts, culminating in his season-best throw. This month alone, Neeraj has achieved his second-best lifetime throws three times: 89.34 meters in Paris (qualification), 89.45 meters in the Olympic final, and now 89.49 meters in Lausanne. Only his personal best of 89.94 meters remains ahead of these marks.
Reflecting on his performance, Neeraj said, “The feeling wasn’t great at first, but I’m happy with my throw, especially achieving my second-best on my last attempt. It was a tough start, but the comeback was really nice, and I enjoyed the fighting spirit I showed. Even though my early throws were around 80-83 meters, I pushed hard in the last two attempts and finished strong. Competing at this high level, it’s crucial to stay mentally tough and fight through.