Simon Pettersson Bids Emotional Farewell to Discus Throwing
Simon Pettersson announces his retirement from discus throwing after an emotional farewell at Finnkampen.
Key Points
- • Simon Pettersson retires after his last competition at Finnkampen.
- • He described his career as an 'incredible journey'.
- • His final throw was a season-best of 57.56 meters, finishing second to Daniel Ståhl.
- • Sweden achieved significant victories in the Finnkampen event.
Swedish discus thrower Simon Pettersson has officially retired from athletics following an impactful performance at his final event, Finnkampen, held before a packed crowd of 12,704 at Stockholm Stadium. The 31-year-old athlete fought back tears as he reflected on his 'incredible journey', noting the challenges he faced in recent years, notably a decline in his performance and lack of motivation to compete at his previous levels. Pettersson marked his last throw at 57.56 meters, a season's best, albeit behind fellow competitor Daniel Ståhl, who won Finnkampen for the twelfth consecutive time with a throw of 67.48 meters.
Pettersson, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and achieved a personal best of 70.42 meters at the Swedish Championships in 2022, announced he had been contemplating retirement since June due to his diminishing desire to return to competitive form. Post-competition, he received a heartwarming send-off from teammates, who playfully tossed him into a water pit, symbolizing a celebratory end to his career.
Looking ahead, Pettersson is uncertain about his next steps but expressed a desire to remain connected to athletics in some manner. The Finnkampen event concluded with Sweden dominating their rivals, claiming victory with a score of 242.5 to 211.5 in the women's events and 252 to 201 in the men's.
This retirement marks the conclusion of a notable chapter in Swedish athletics, where Pettersson earned admiration not only for his competitive achievements but also for his dedication and humility within the sport.