Aiming for Olympic gold

U.S. javelin medals are hard to come by, but a Cardinal Gibbons grad has a chance

Raleigh's Leigh Smith is one of the best javelin throwers in the world when he gets everything in sync.

But getting the footwork, the body turn, the release and all the other 100 technical things just right is difficult.

"I haven't been as consistent as I would like," Smith said. "But I wouldn't be going to the Olympics if I didn't think I could win a medal."

History is not on the Cardinal Gibbons High graduate's side.

The United States has won five men's javelin medals in the Olympic Games since 1908.

Cyrus Young won the United States' only gold in the men's javelin in 1952. The U.S. hasn't won a medal in the event since getting a bronze in 1972.

Smith, who is a commercial flight instructor in New Orleans, has the best throw by an American this year, 274 feet, 9 inches.

That throw landed him his Olympic berth.

He finished fifth in the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, but only he, Mike Hazle, who was second in the trials, and American record holder Beaux Greer, a two-time Olympian, have Olympic "A" qualifying throws of at least 268 feet, 4 inches.

Hazle threw 248-7 in the trials, and Smith had a 243-7 throw. Greer has a shoulder injury and didn't make the finals at the trials.

Smith's selection for the 2008 Olympics is poetic justice. He finished third in the trials in 2004 but didn't qualify for the games because he was about five inches short of the "A" qualifying standard.

Smith said he has been throwing well this year but just didn't have a good meet at the trials.

He believes he is in great shape and is stronger than ever, but he needs consistency.

"I'm stronger than some of the other top throwers, but they are more consistent in their technique," he said.

A javelin throw consists of the run up, the draw back, the crossovers and the ultimate step as the javelin is released. To be a top-level thrower, the athlete must perform each of the phases exactly right.

The legs, body and feet need to be in specific positions for a maximum throw.

"You are trying to keep something under control that is basically uncontrollable," Smith said.

Chapel Hill javelin coach Jeff Gorski worked with Smith when he was in high school. Gorski knew quickly that Smith had great potential.

"He was about 6 foot 6, had a strong arm and had the leverage of a Roman catapult," Gorski said. "He was skinny kid back then and had to rely on technique. But like a lot of Americans, as he has gotten so much bigger and stronger, his technique isn't as good as it should be."

Gorski compares throwing a javelin to hitting a golf ball.

"There is a lot of timing and technique involved," he said. "Someone trying to hit the ball too hard won't hit it as far as someone who hits it the right way.

"In the javelin, you can't make that big throw if you're trying too hard. You have to rely on your technique, not your arm."

Smith has devoted much of his life to refining his technique.

He was the national high school champion after his junior year at Leesville Road in 1999 and third after graduating from Gibbons in 2000.

He was an All-American at Tennessee for three years and set school records, but he never won the NCAA championship, one of his biggest regrets.

He has learned from several coaches -- Gorski, Tennessee's Bill Webb and former U.S. record holder Tom Pukstys, who also trained with Gorski.

Smith lived in Pukstys' basement for a while and worked with young javelin throwers, including Iowa State recruit Daniel Newhouse of Aurora, Ill.

"Teaching with him and seeing him develop was one of the things that I am most proud of," Smith said.

He is also proud to be an Olympian and believes he has the ability to do well.

"We haven't won a gold medal in the men's javelin in over 50 years and haven't won any medal in it in more than 30 and I would love to change that," he said. "We could go 1-2-3. We really could."