Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage has set his sights on making Olympic history after winning the men’s javelin title at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship with a remarkable throw of 91.09 metres.
The 23-year-old athlete said his biggest immediate ambition is to win Sri Lanka’s first-ever Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Olympic Games. He also identified breaking the men’s javelin world record as the ultimate long-term goal of his career.
The current world record stands at 98.48 metres, set by Czech javelin legend Jan Železný in 1996.
Pathirage said he initially felt concerned after recording a relatively modest opening throw, particularly given the presence of strong competitors from Canada and Germany and the possibility of early elimination.
However, he quickly recovered in his subsequent attempts, repeatedly surpassing the 90-metre mark before producing his winning throw of 91.09 metres to secure the championship title.
The victory also earned Pathirage USD 150,000 in prize money, the largest financial reward of his career. He said he had not been focused on the money before the competition, with winning the trophy being his main priority.
Although he welcomed the substantial prize, Pathirage said the title itself meant more to him than the financial reward.
Pathirage began throwing the javelin in 2017 and said he has improved his seasonal and personal bests almost every year since. He had originally expected to break the 90-metre barrier closer to the 2028 Olympics but achieved the milestone earlier than anticipated in 2026.
With several throws now exceeding 90 metres, the Sri Lankan believes challenging the world record could eventually become the final major target of his javelin career. He also revealed that he has recorded training throws of around 91 metres.
Before focusing on athletics, Pathirage was a talented cricketer and fast bowler. Asked whether he regretted leaving cricket, especially with the sport set to return to the Olympic programme in 2028, he said his immediate focus remained on winning an Olympic gold medal for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has won only two Olympic medals in its history, both silver, making an Olympic gold medal a historic ambition for the young athlete.
Pathirage said he may consider changing careers after achieving his Olympic goal, leaving open the possibility of returning to cricket in the future.
He also noted that his experience as a fast bowler had some similarities with javelin throwing, particularly in terms of speed and movement, although the techniques involved are different.
With a world title, a USD 150,000 prize and the 90-metre barrier already conquered, Pathirage is now turning his attention to an even bigger challenge — winning Sri Lanka’s first Olympic gold medal.
