Gerd Kanter (born 6 May 1979) is an Estonian retired discus thrower. He was the 2007 World Champion in the event and won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and bronze in London 2012. His personal best throw of 73.38 m is the Estonian record and the fourth best mark of all time.
He made his first Olympic appearance in 2004 and established himself a year later by taking the silver medal at the 2005 World Championships. He was runner-up at the 2006 European Athletics Championships and won further medals at the World Championships in 2009 (bronze) and 2011 (silver).
He won the 2012 and the 2013 IAAF Diamond League in discus throw.
Career He competed at the 2004 Olympics, but did not reach the final. The season 2005 was his breakthrough year as he won silver medals at the World Championships and World Athletics Final, took home a victory in the European Cup and won the World University Games. He also threw more than 70 metres for the first time.
On 4 September 2006 in Helsingborg, Sweden, Kanter threw more than 70 metres in four different rounds (69.46 – 72.30 – 70.43 – 73.38 – 70.51 – 65.88). The best mark of 73.38 m was an Estonian record and the third best in history – only Jürgen Schult (74.08 m, 1986) and Virgilijus Alekna (73.88 m, 2000) had thrown further.Butcher, Michael (2006-09-05). Kanter 73.38m in Helsingborg. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-10-01.
Kanter was the silver medalist at the 2006 European Athletics Championships, finishing behind Virgilijus Alekna, and became the world champion in the discus at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he took the Olympic gold medal with a throw of 68.82 meters, one meter ahead of second-place finisher Piotr Małachowski of Poland.
In March 2009 he won the European Cup Winter Throwing event in Los Realejos, Tenerife, Spain with 69.70 m. On 22 March 2009, he set a world indoor best of 69.51 m in Växjö, Sweden.Kanter throws 69.51m world indoor best in Växjö At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics he returned to defend his world title. He had a best throw of 66.88 m, which was enough for the World bronze medal.Jalava, Mirko (2009-08-19). Event Report – Men's Discus Throw – Final. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-08-22. Archived 2009-09-08. He took victory in the Wexiö Indoor Throwing competition in 2010, although his winning throw was some way behind his indoor record set the previous year.Augustsson, Bert (2010-03-28). Kanter a little below par indoors. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-29. Still, he started strongly outdoors, having a long early-season throw of 71.45 m in California – the eleventh best throw ever at that point.Kanter throws a stunning 71.45m in California. European Athletics (2010-04-30). Retrieved on 2010-04-30.
He finished just outside the medals at the 2010 European Athletics Championships, coming fourth, but managed to win the silver medal at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics behind Robert Harting. He ended that year with a season's best throw of 67.99 m at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial.Juck, Alfons (2011-09-21). Kanter throws 67.99m in Warsaw. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-10-01.
He retired from competition after the 2018 season.
Achievements Representing 2001European U23 ChampionshipsAmsterdam, Netherlands5th57.73 m2002European ChampionshipsMunich, Germany12th55.14 m2003European Throwing Cup Gioia Tauro, Italy 1st64.17 mWorld Championships Paris, France25th (q)56.63 m2004European Throwing Cup Marsa, Malta 1st63.21 mOlympic GamesAthens, Greece19th (q)60.05 mWorld Athletics FinalMonte Carlo, Monaco5th63.28 m2005European Throwing Cup Mersin, Turkey 1st66.05 mWorld ChampionshipsHelsinki, Finland 2nd68.57 mUniversiadeİzmir, Turkey 1st65.29 mWorld Athletics FinalMonte Carlo, Monaco 2nd66.01 m2006European Throwing Cup Tel Aviv, Israel 3rd62.55 mEuropean ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden 2nd68.03 mWorld Athletics FinalStuttgart, Germany 2nd68.47 m2007European Throwing Cup Yalta, Ukraine 1st65.43 mWorld ChampionshipsOsaka, Japan 1st68.94 mWorld Athletics FinalStuttgart, Germany 1st66.54 m2008European Throwing Cup Split, Croatia 1st65.25 mOlympic GamesBeijing, China 1st68.82 mWorld Athletics FinalStuttgart, Germany 1st68.38 m2009European Throwing Cup Tenerife, Spain 1st69.70 mWorld ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany 3rd66.88 m2010European Championships Barcelona, Spain4th66.20 m2011World ChampionshipsDaegu, South Korea 2nd66.95 m2012European ChampionshipsHelsinki, Finland 2nd66.53 mOlympic GamesLondon, United Kingdom 3rd68.03 m2013World ChampionshipsMoscow, Russia 3rd65.19 m2014European ChampionshipsZurich, Switzerland 2nd64.75 mContinental CupMarrakesh, Morocco 1st64.46 m2015World ChampionshipsBeijing, China4th64.82 m2016European ChampionshipsAmsterdam, Netherlands 3rd65.27 mOlympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil5th65.10 m2017World ChampionshipsLondon, United Kingdom12th60.00 m2018European ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany5th64.34 m
Honours Estonian Sportsman of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2011 European Athlete of the Month: April 2009, April 2010, September 2014
Orders Order of the Estonian Red Cross, 1st Class: 2009 Order of the White Star, 4th Class: 2006
References
External links
NBC Olympics – Athlete profile Gerd Kanter official page Gerd Kanter page