26 Facts About Andreas Thorkildsen

Andreas Thorkildsen was born on 1 April 1982 and is a retired Norwegian track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw.

Andreas Thorkildsen was the Olympic Champion in 2004 and 2008, European Champion in 2006 and 2010, and World Champion in 2009.

Andreas Thorkildsen is the first male javelin thrower in history to simultaneously be European, World and Olympic Champion.

Andreas Thorkildsen was a three-time silver medalist at the World Championships, placing second in 2005,2007 and 2011.

Thorkildsen's father Tomm Thorkildsen is a former javelin thrower, achieving a personal best throw of 71.64 metres in 1974.

Andreas Thorkildsen took his secondary education at Kristiansand Cathedral School.

In March 2011 Vukicevic and Andreas Thorkildsen announced in the Norwegian media that they no longer were a couple.

In 2007, Andreas Thorkildsen performed as a fashion model for former footballer Martin Dahlin, fronting his winter and autumn collections.

Andreas Thorkildsen took up javelin throwing at the age of 11, and was coached by his father Tomm until 1999.

Andreas Thorkildsen established numerous national boys' records as a teenager.

In 2000 Andreas Thorkildsen took his first medal at the Norwegian championships, finishing in silver medal position behind Ronny Nilsen.

Andreas Thorkildsen's form earned Thorkildsen his first call-up to the Norwegian European Cup team.

At the national level Andreas Thorkildsen became Norwegian champion for the first time.

Andreas Thorkildsen has not competed on national level in other athletic events.

Andreas Thorkildsen became the second Norwegian man to win the Olympic gold medal in javelin throw, after Egil Danielsen in 1956.

In 2006 Andreas Thorkildsen returned to his original club Kristiansands IF, having represented SK Vidar in competitions the five previous seasons.

Andreas Thorkildsen won the event with 88.78 metres, having led the competition since the second round.

Andreas Thorkildsen finished the season by winning his first World Athletics Final as well as the 2006 IAAF World Cup.

Andreas Thorkildsen recovered his form at the world championships, but could only achieve a silver medal, this time losing to Pitkamaki finally fulfilling his potential with a throw of 90.33.

In 2008 Andreas Thorkildsen won the Golden League event at Bislett in Oslo, his main goal besides the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Andreas Thorkildsen won a gold medal in the Olympics where he set a new Olympic record with 90.57 metres.

Andreas Thorkildsen dominated the competition, leading it from his first throw and making the two longest throws in the competition without using his last attempt.

Andreas Thorkildsen won the javelin competition of the 2008 IAAF Golden League in Zurich on 29 August.

In 2012 Andreas Thorkildsen finished fourth at European Championships in Helsinki only managing three throws with the best result of 81.55 metres after picking up an injury during warm-up.

Andreas Thorkildsen later decided to sit out the entire 2015 season but aimed at comeback in 2016.

However, in May 2016 Andreas Thorkildsen announced his retirement from sports.