With a bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games and a Diamond League crown secured on Saturday, 2024 will be unforgettable for Grenada’s champion javelin thrower, Anderson Peters.
The two-time world champion triumphed at the Diamond League finale in Brussels with a throw of 87.87 meters, once again edging out India’s Neeraj Chopra, who finished in second place.
In a sense, Peters got a bit of payback against his friend Neeraj, who had outpaced him to win silver at the Stade de France in Paris on August 8. This time, on Saturday, Neeraj came up just one centimeter short of Peters.
“Ask any athlete, any true competitor. It doesn’t matter if you win by an inch, a centimeter, or a mile. Winning is winning. Respect the nutmeg,” Peters posted on his social media after claiming his first Diamond League trophy and a $30,000 cheque.
Two years ago, Peters was on top of the world, celebrating victories at the World Championships in Eugene and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. But his world came crashing down shortly after.
At just 24, Peters was brutally attacked and thrown overboard during a boat party, which led to significant injuries. His recovery was long and arduous; after a challenging comeback last year that saw him fail to qualify for the Budapest World Championships finals, he only regained full fitness just two weeks before the Paris Games.
Peters showed signs of returning to form in the Paris Olympic Games qualifying round on August 6 with a second-best throw of 88.63 meters. Two days later, he finished third with a throw of 88.54 meters, behind Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra.
On August 8, Peters nearly went unnoticed amid a crowded media zone. It took a few moments for people to realize he was there to speak.
Like Nadeem, who achieved two impressive throws over 90 meters in Paris, Peters had also recorded throws over 90 meters in Eugene—90.21 and 90.54 meters.
“Yes, Eugene was a high point. But now, after a long time, I’m feeling healthy again, and it shows in my performance,” Peters said.
During the official news conference, as Neeraj expressed his frustration with a long-term groin injury, Peters empathized with his peer. “I know how it feels. I’ve struggled to return to top form over the last two years, and it was only in the past 15 days that I felt free of niggles.”
Peters’ journey culminated in a podium finish in Paris, a Diamond League victory in Lausanne, and a triumphant final performance on Saturday. He’s back, and he’s back with a vengeance.
