Seppo Räty

Seppo Räty

Personal information
Full name	Seppo Henrik Räty
Nationality	Finnish
Born	(1962-04-27) 27 April 1962 (age 54) Helsinki, Finland
Years active	1987-1997
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	102 kg (225 lb)
Sport
Country	Finland (1987-1997)
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Javelin throw
Turned pro	1987
Retired	1997
Achievements and titles
World finals	1987 Rome: Javelin throw; Gold 1991 Tokyo: Javelin throw; Silver
Olympic finals	1988 Seoul: Javelin throw; Bronze 1992 Barcelona: Javelin throw; Silver 1996 Atlanta: Javelin throw; Bronze
Personal best(s)	90.60 m (1992)
Medal record Men's Athletics Representing  Finland Olympic Games 1992 Barcelona Javelin 1988 Seoul Javelin 1996 Atlanta Javelin World Championships 1987 Rome Javelin 1991 Tokyo Javelin European Athletics Championships 1994 Helsinki Javelin

Seppo Henrik Räty (born 27 April 1962, in Helsinki) is a Finnish javelin thrower. His personal best throw was 96.96 m in 1991, which was a world record with the "new javelin" at the time, however this throw was made using a modified 'Nemeth' javelin which was banned by the IAAF later that year and all records made using this javelin were retrospectively deleted. Räty's best throw with the current javelin is 90.60 m in 1992. He was World Champion in 1987 and an Olympic medalist in the javelin throw (silver 1992, bronze 1988 and 1996). He was nicknamed "Tohmajärven karhu" (The Bear of Tohmajärvi) and "Tohmajärven tykki" (The Cannon of Tohmajärvi).

While in the process of winning the 1987 World Championships, Räty was the subject of an often repeated video of failure. Räty tripped on the runway, his javelin throw sticking in the runway about 30 cm short of the foul line. While an embarrassing throw for negative gain, in fact since he had not crossed the line it did not even count as a foul.

Now Räty is coaching another javelin talent from Northern Karelia, Oona Sormunen.

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