Not A Long Career

[DoubleRBar]

Happy 64th birthday today (Tuesday) to an Olympic champion who did not compete in the hurdles.

Our birthday champion did not make the final at the World Championships the year before winning the Olympic gold medal.

This athlete studied theology and was born with the same initials as a pretty famous movie director.

Both the pretty famous movie director and our birthday athlete were born in Europe.

You might already know that this athlete is left-handed, but does not suffer from Vertigo.

I know you know the name of our birthday individual. so go ahead and name this athlete on this final day of January.

Thank you very much for not using any research with your answer.

Good luck.

[KDFINE]

Well today happens to be Jeremy Wariner's birthday but its not him, as he doesn't fit any of the clues.

[Olli]

Yea, I believe I know this but I'll give a chance to others. Here's another hint (if you don't mind): two years before the Olympics, this athlete made the exactly same mark (meters and centimeters) in European Championships but failed to medal.

[79]

A discus or hammer or javelin thrower?

[DoubleRBar]

Yes, 79, you are correct. Olli knows what he is talking about.

[79]

Olli sounds Nordic, so, I would say javelin.

[DoubleRBar]

You have the right event (javelin), 79.

[bambam1729]

Arto Harkkonen

[79]

You have the right event (javelin), 79.

I know nothing about javelin, except Zelezni

[Trickstat]

Arto Harkkonen

AH - of course Alfred Hitchcock directed Vertigo.

[DoubleRBar]

Arto Harkonen was born in Helsinki, Finland, 64 years ago today. Well done, bambam1729.

Harkonen won the javelin at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics on the first Sunday of August. His winning toss (86.76 or 284' 8") came during the fourth round of throwing. He had three fouls during the final.

Arto Harkonen competed in his hometown (Helsinki) at the 1983 World Championships, however he did not make the final in Helsinki.

He was "lucky" that Uwe Hohn (East Germany) did not compete in Los Angeles in 1984. Uwe Hohn set a world record (104.80 or 343' 10") in East Germany just eight days before the Los Angeles Olympic opening ceremonies.

Thank you, bambam1729, KDFINE, Olli, 79, and Trickstat (yes, Alfred Hitchcock directed "Vertigo" in 1958).

[Trickstat]

The silver medal in the 84 men's javelin was won by Dave Ottley. This was a surprise, but is probably the most forgotten British individual track & field medal within my living memory.

[DoubleRBar]

Dave Ottley competed in the javelin at three consecutive Olympics and won that silver medal in the second of those three Games.