DAEGU -- Before the finals on Monday, not many expected his victory here at the Daegu World Championships. But despite the odds -- and his age -- Koji Murofushi of Japan on Monday became the oldest champion in the men’s hammer throw.

The 36-year-old Japanese champion, who won the 2004 Olympic gold and also silver and bronze at the worlds in 2001 and 2003, was not the competition favorite, and many thought his heyday was long over. He missed the 2005 and 2009 worlds due to injury, and was not even in the top 10 list before coming to Daegu. 

But on Monday he won the title with his season-best effort of 81.24m, beating Hungary’s Krisztian Pars and defending champion Primoz Kozmus of Slovenia.

“I am delighted to have won my first world title with my season-best,” he said after the final.

Asked whether he had expected his victory, Murofushi said: “I was trying to peak for this meet and I’m so happy to make it happen.”

He credited his victory to his Swedish coach Tore Gustafasson, who has been working with him for nearly five years.

“He was also a hammer thrower, so he knows how to look at technique, and as a therapist he’s a great person.”

He noted that his background helped. “If my father weren’t there, I wouldn’t be here today.

“He’s a big influence for me, and made so much effort to bring me to today,” he added.

His father Shigenobu is a former Olympian and national hammer champion, and the family has held the national hammer record since 1971. His mother was a Romanian javelin thrower and his younger sister Yuka also holds the national hammer record.

He was born to be a hammer champion, but he admitted that his time in the sport was nearing to an end.

“I don’t want to bring up age, but when you get older, it’s hard to keep your body in condition.

“I’ll go to London,” he added, however, with a big smile on his face.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)