I immediately recognize the face and the gigantic body when he enters the conference room at the Kääriku Sports Center – a few kilometers from the border between Estonia and Russia. The last time I spoke to Gerd Kanter was in the Olympic Village during the 2008 Olympics, where a few days before at the Beijing National Stadium I had seen the 29-year-old Estonian win Olympic gold medal in discus with a throw of 68.82 meters ahead of Malachowski from Poland (67.82 meters) and Alekna from Lithuania (67.79 meters). The 2008 Olympic gold medal was a sporting highlight for the likeable Estonian, but both before and after the 2008 Olympics, Kanter won plenty of international titles and medals, making him a legend, both in Estonia and in international athletics.
Modern Estonia – free from the iron grip of the Soviet Union
Gerd Kanter was born on 6 May 1979 in Tallinn – the capital of Estonia. This was not the case at the end of the 1970s, when Estonia was annexed by the Soviet Union – like the two other Baltic countries – Latvia and Lithuania – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. For more than five decades (1945-1991), these countries were held in the iron grip of censorship, nepotism and human rights abuses by Communist Russia. It was only with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 that Estonia achieved the status of an independent nation. Gerd was 12 years old when oppression, fear and poverty were replaced by dreams, hope and optimism for Gerd’s parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. Freedom of speech and democracy were put on the agenda and the material prosperity of the Estonian population developed in record time. I visited Estonia at the end of the 1990s and a few weeks ago I could see that the progress in the past three decades has been very impressive. Estonia’s level of prosperity in terms of GDP per capita is today significantly higher than nations such as Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Hungary and Poland. And Tallinn now looks like any other capital in Europe, with a strong infrastructure, a wide range of shops and goods, cultural offers and great sports facilities. Gerd Kanter is also in no doubt that the primary reason for Estonia’s great development is the membership of both the EU and NATO in 2004, which has created both a great material development and, not least, military security. “We have always been part of Europe and never part of Russia” – this is how Kanter expresses himself during our conversations.
The basketball player who became the world’s best discus thrower
Gerd tells me that he was 17 years old before he started practice athletics. “I always liked competition, but it was basketball that I loved at school and in the club after school. Because of my height and physique, basketball suited me well, but at some point my father thought I should try throwing – either with a shot put, discus or hammer. At that time we lived in Vana-Vigala, but in 1998 I moved to Tallinn, partly to study economics and business at the university. In the beginning, I mostly did athletics for fun, but Raul Rebane – one of my good friends – suggested that I start a collaboration with the Icelandic coach – Vesteinn Hafsteinsson. It was the start of my international career”. Gerd managed to qualify for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where he achieved a modest 20th place (60.05 metres). The international breakthrough came the following year with World Championship silver medal and several throws over 70 metres. In the following years, a string of international medals followed: WC gold (2007), WC silver (2011) and WC bronze (2009 and 2013), 3 x European Championship silver medal (2006, 2012 and 2014) and Olympic bronze medal in London (2012). Kanter was also among the medal candidates at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where he finished 5th (65.10 metres). Gerd Kanter’s personal record is 73.38 meters, which has only been surpassed by three throwers in the world: Mykolas Alekna (74.35 – 2024), Jürgen Schult (74.08 – 1986) and Virgilijus Alekna (73.88 – 2000). Kanter’s last season at the international top level was in 2018. It was time for the legend of 196 centimeters and 125 kilos to prioritize his wife Liinanga and their son Kristjana.
Children and youth simply move too little – also in Estonia
During our talks at the Kääriku Sports Center, Gerd offers me to drive with him back to Tallinn instead of taking the train. During the trip, which lasts a little more than three hours, Gerd tells me about his life after his career as an international top athlete. “I think that athletes should be more visible and significant in relation to sports politics, both at national and international level. That is why I chose to run for the EOC’s athlete committee in 2017, where I was elected chairman. A task for which I was re-elected in the period 2020-2024. The election also meant that I became a member of the IOC’s athlete committee. It has been very educational for me and I have built a strong and diverse network among athletes from all over the world. I think it is absolutely right that you can only be a member of such committees for 8 years”, says Gerd Kanter. On the trip, we also talk about the physical and motor skills of children and youth, which Gerd is concerned about. “I think that the healthcare system here in Estonia will be severely challenged in the future. Children and youth simply move too little and rarely play outdoors. Today, I am the director of Tallinn’s largest sports club “Spordiklubi Nord”, where we offer a number of different sports – gymnastics, athletics, swimming, basketball and martial arts. Many children – often strongly encouraged by their parents – prefer football, but I think children should try different sports. Is it also the case in Denmark – Michael – that the children spend far too much time with the mobile phone and the iPad – instead of playing outside and playing team sports with their friends?” Unfortunately, I have to confirm to Gerd that the trend is exactly the same in Denmark.
Say hello to the “messy head” and “See you again – my friend”
On the trip, there will also be time to hear about Gerd Kanter’s experiences and anecdotes from Aarhus, where he trained with Joachim B. Olsen. I tell Gerd that Joachim has been elected to the Danish Parliament for a period of time and that he is now a journalist at one of the country’s largest daily newspapers. Joachim’s career in politics and journalism surprises and delights Gerd. “Joachim was a bit of a mess, but really fun to be with. I think his girlfriend – Karen – had a handle on many of the more practical things”, says Gerd, laughing. “You must finally greet Joachim if you see him – of course also Karen. And you are very welcome to visit my sports club in Tallinn on your next visit here in Estonia”, concludes Gerd before we say “See you again – my friend”.
Source:
Gerd Kanter & Raul Rebane: “Everything is possible. 15 steps which helped an average small town boy become an Olympian champion” (Menu, 2009).
