‘Dominant’ discus dynamo Denny’s Doha Diamond delight
Ian Chadband |
Australian discus powerhouse Matthew Denny says he’s determined to become the “dominant” figure in his sport — and the Olympic bronze medallist has taken another step towards achieving his aim with an impressive Diamond League triumph in Doha.
With a superb display in the Qatari capital on Friday, Denny, who moved to second on the world all-time list after a 74.78m throw in Ramona, Oklahoma, last month, defeated Swedish both world champ Daniel Stahl and Slovenia’s former global gold medallist Kristjan Ceh.
It demonstrated how the 28-year-old from the little Queensland town of Allora is ready to kick on after finishing third in Paris last year, as he declared: “It is awesome to win again.
“I have been tired after a lot of travel and a bit flat from the start, but I have had a really good start of the Diamond League season and I cannot wait for the next one.”
This was the Commonwealth champ and two-time Diamond League winner’s first competition since the amazing breakthrough of Ramona, where his effort was only bettered by Lithuanian Mykolas Alekna’s incredible world record there of 75.65m.
“It was pretty tough coming home after that competition if I’m honest. That 74, it levelled me. My first session back, I felt like I forgot how to throw, I was so fatigued,” Denny said.
“There’s momentum there but I didn’t know what to expect today in regards to distance and whether it would be enough, in terms of whether the boys would be out to prove a point to me.”
But he ended up proving a point to them just a day after he had told reporters: “My aim has always been to be the most dominant figure in men’s discus.”
Denny opened up the lead in tricky, windy conditions with his first-round effort of 67.33m, which kept him ahead of Stahl (67.06m) and Ceh (66.92m) throughout until he sealed the deal with a best final-round effort of 68.97.
“I would love to get more really big throws,” said Denny, who always seem to have the best brought out of him by the lucrative Diamond League circuit and its glittering prizes.
“The diamond (trophy) is mine and nobody can take it from me. I had to make sure that nobody was taking from me in that last round and I pushed myself to secure the victory so I am very grateful,” he said, having also collected $US10,000 ($A15,600) for his night’s labours.
Among the international highlights was Jamaica’s Tia Clayton edging her twin sister Tina Clayton in the women’s 100m in a 2025 world-leading 10.92 seconds – 0.1sec faster than her sibling.
Double Olympic 100m champion, the 38-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had to settle for fourth.
AAP
