- I expected at least 85 meters.

But it does not bother me that it took longer than that, says Helander to Yle Sporten.

After releasing handball, Helander got his big breakthrough when he threw 88.02 four years ago as a 21-year-old, but lots of injuries, especially the shoulder, have made his career path winding.

As recently as June last year, Helander broke a competition in Orimattila after three failed throws and an aching body.

Then it was close that he gave up his spear career.

- I was wondering if it is really worth doing this.

That I should continue at all, if it does not happen and I always have problems, he says to Yle.

Never made it to the finals of a championship

He competed in the Olympics in Tokyo but did not survive the qualifiers, which also applied to the WC Doha 2019 and the EC in Munich 2018. After the Olympics last year, he felt empty and sought help from the javelin legend Tero Pitkämäki, who Helander had as a childhood idol since he was eight years old , and it is important to keep the body injury-free.

- Oliver's future as a javelin thrower depends on whether he is able to compete regularly enough in the next few years and stay healthy.

If the problems continue for a couple, three more years, it will probably be difficult.

There is just as much capacity, says Tero Pitkämäki, who thinks that Helander has the best approach run of all javelin throwers.

A couple of days before the full meeting in Turku, Helander talked about the long-term plan.

- The goal is to throw over 90 meters and take Olympic gold in Paris, he said.

After yesterday's hit, 17 centimeters are missing and there is both a World Cup in Eugene and a European Championship Munich this summer for the Finn who has become a solid medal candidate in the branch that has become one of the hottest on the athletics tour.