Gerd Kanter. Everything is possible!. Gerd Kanter

      When I was a “57-metre man”, I suggested to my teammates that we should found the 70 metre club. 70 metres seemed such a great distance. No one took it all that seriously, but we created the club in spirit. The goal seemed absurdly far-off, because at that point I hadn’t even achieved 60 metres. The 70 metre club had existed for only a year when Tartu University professor Mihkel Zilmer said: “Guys, your goal is completely wrong. In sports, there can only be one kind of goal, that which no one else has managed to achieve.” And the mark that no one has surpassed is the world record. It was then that we founded Team 75 Plus.

      With Raul Rebane and Vésteinn Hafsteinsson before the Osaka World Championship qualifi cations.

      My personal best is 73.38 and the world record is 74.08. We haven’t reached it yet, but we have a great goal, which has helped get us through the interim steps. It’s like entering university, before which you must proceed from one grade to another.

      Studying how the attempt turned out with physiotherapist and assistant coach Indrek Tustit.

      I’ve been told on many occasions: “Do something first, then start talking” or “The goals you set are too high.” Setting a high goal suits me, but doesn’t suit everyone. They fear criticism if they fail to reach their goal. I’ve never really cared about criticism. I’ve been offended by the odd newspaper article, but I get over it. I support the simple principle that you are responsible for what you do. When you believe in yourself, you dare to dream. If you don’t have faith in yourself, then dreaming is just a way to pass the time.

      I’ve seen hundreds of so-called locker room heroes, who would like to be great athletes, but can’t be bothered to go the extra mile. I believe that a great and distant goal has helped me to stay on the right track. My dream of making it has not allowed me to make any compromises or think that nothing will happen if I skip a practice. I would be shortchanging my dream and that amounts to cheating.

      Now “I’ve made it” according to many, since what do you strive to attain after an Olympic win? But then I discover once again that someone has set me new goals beyond the horizon. My desire to see what lies beyond the rainbow keeps me moving forward.

      I’m often asked, “Who is the person setting your goals?” I must admit that I do it myself.