Javelin thrower misses out on Olympic Games

Javelin thrower Marharyta Dorozhon saw her Olympic dream end in tears on Sunday night after she failed to throw the required distance to qualify for Rio.

The Ukrainian-born 28-year-old had already thrown the required distance last year, but regulations laid out by the Olympic Committee of Israel, stipulated she had to throw over 60 meters in 2016 in order to secure her place.

However, Dorozhon who became an Israeli citizen in 2014,went into her final chance at Tel Aviv’s Hadar Yosef Stadium, with a groin injury, which she’s suffered from for much of the year, and failed to get anywhere near her target, her best attempt being 48.03 meters. Fouling on her second attempt, she then called it a day with her remaining four throws due to injury as she left the track in tears.

Israel Athletics Association professional manager Rogel Nahum said: “After having an excellent year in 2015, Marharyta unfortunately suffered an injury earlier this year and couldn’t recover. We lost an athlete that we had hoped would be able to reach the Olympic final. She’s sad, but she is still young and has future Olympics to look forward to.”
Her absence means Israel’s official number of delegates goes down to 47, though it will still be the largest in the country’s history, surpassing the previous record of 43 in Beijing in 2008.

The Games get underway on Friday evening with the Opening Ceremony.