Kanter, Raul Rebane
Gerd Kanter Everything is possible 15 steps which helped an average small town boy become an Olympic champion
You hold in your hands a book describing a success story, which is unusual even in the colourful world of sports with its wealth of talented individuals. It is also a story about Estonia, a small Baltic nation of 1,3 million people, where sports heroes have been very important role models throughout history and have inspired people to accomplish great deeds. Estonia has won a total of 60 (!) Olympic medals, which, considering the population, makes us one of the most outstanding sporting nations in the world. It’s therefore no small wonder that the desire to achieve athletic victories may lie hidden within people’s genetic code and that this desire also took this book’s hero from a small town boy to Olympic victory.
In May of 2000, Gerd Kanter was an average 21-year-old university student who wanted to become a great discus thrower. He didn’t have any predisposition for this, was too old and showed no potential according to many coaches, didn’t have his own discus or proper footwear, nor had he achieved any great throwing results. What he did posess was desire and belief in his abilities. We were united by chance and began our journey. What light burned within this young man, is revealed in the following story.
Gerd Kanter
• Born on May 6, 1979 in Tallinn.
• Studied at Vana-Vigala elementary school, Pärnu-Jaagupi high school and business administration at Tallinn Technical University’s Business School. He is currently working on his Masters degree in marketing at the Estonian Business School.
• Began throwing discus at the untraditionally late age of 17.
• His first coach was Ando Palginõmm. He has also been coached by Helgi Parts, Aleksander Tammert senior and Uno Ojand. In the year 2000, Icelander Vésteinn Hafsteinsson became Gerd Kanter’s coach, with whom he trains to this day.
The development of Gerd Kanter’s personal records
1996 – 46.92 (1,5 kg discus)
1997 – 50.40 (1,5 kg discus)
1998 – 47.37 (2 kg discus)
1999 – 49.25
2000 – 57.68
2001 – 60.47
2002 – 66.31
2003 – 67.13
2004 – 68.50
2005 – 70.10
2006 – 73.38
2007 – 72.08
2008 – 71.88
During the first 11 years of his discus throwing career, Gerd improved his personal record every year!
Accomplishments
2005 – gold medal at the Izmir University Games (65.29)
2005 – silver medal at the World Championships in Helsinki (68.57)
2006 – silver medal at the European Championships in Gothenburg (68.03)
2007 – gold medal at the Osaka World Championships (68.94)
2008 – gold medal at the Beijing Olympics (68.82)
• Gerd has won the European Winter Cup on six occasions (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009).
• He was Estonian champion from 2004-2008.
• During 2004-2006 he broke five Estonian records (68.50, 68.61, 70.10, 72.30, 73.38).
• In 2006 in Helsingborg he achieved the world’s best series (69.46, 72.30, 70.43, 73.38, 70.51, 65.88).
• In 2007 and 2008, he was voted best male athlete in Estonia.
From 2001 to 1.08.2009:
• Gerd has attended 76 training camps
• Completed 4300 training sessions
• Trained for 10 600 hours
• Taken 108 000 throws.
Gerd’s competitions from 2001 to 2008
• Only failed to record a valid attempt at two competitions, both of them in Zurich.
• Succeeded in throwing 60 metres 185 times at competitions held in 64 cities in 29 countries (1. Aug. 2009).
Additional information: www.team75plus.com
This book came about rather unexpectedly, since I have not considered my so-called rules to be anything out of the ordinary. They have simply been as much a part of my life as studying for school and brushing my teeth. Most of my principles got their start at home and school and it was natural, although not always easy, for me to follow them.
I have also been witness to how sticking to even the simplest of principles is extremely difficult for many. A great deal of talented people have thereby been lost to the world of athletics. What’s the use of training if you don’t know how to rest, do not eat properly or spend nights behind the computer?!
I was often asked to speak publicly after winning the silver medal at the World Championships in Helsinki in 2005. I consider it my duty to visit schools as much as I can and much to my surprise, my simple ideas were well-received and taken very seriously. That’s how this book came to be: a story of successes and overcoming defeats.
Raul Rebane recorded my stories and we then discussed and corrected them. In the meantime, we tried the principles out at certain schools and conferences, where we got new ideas.
If the reader believes that simple, yet consistent steps take you to the top, then this book has served its purpose.
In February of 2001, Gerd achieved a personal best in shot put – 16.80. It wasn’t an exceptional result, but it was proof that our team was on the right track. However, it made Gerd so happy that during the following month he asked me many times: “Who do you think will become the Olympic champion in discus in 2008?” I of course had no idea and Gerd answered proudly: “Me!”
Soon after Gerd’s daring statement, I asked him to write down the principles which he feels are crucial to becoming an Olympic champion. Those so-called ten commandments were saved in my computer and I observed with interest, to see if Gerd would follow through on them. In a few years it was obvious that he kept his promises and more – new principles were included. I was very proud of Gerd and began telling others about his experiences. I quickly received feedback that people benefited from Gerd’s experiences and that they should be introduced to a broader audience; first and foremost to children, coaches and parents.
Following his first medal wins, Gerd began sharing his experiences as well. They were based on his most basic golden rules, which are now recorded in this book.
As Gerd’s oldest friend and advisor, this method of following his “commandments” and examples has yielded great results. It’s plain to see that if a person is able to pull him- or herself together, focus on his or her goal, and change if necessary, results will follow.
A few minutes after my Olympic win with Egyptian discus thrower Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly and assistant coach Indrek Tustit.
1. BE happy
When as a young boy, I would read, more often than not, by the next morning I failed to remember much of what I had read the night before. I couldn’t remember because I hadn’t read the book with interest, but rather due to my mother’s coaxing.
It was much the same story with my studies. Sometimes I couldn’t recall anything of what I had studied the night before. I was much more interested in other things: I wanted to watch TV or play outside. I suddenly began to think – what’s the