Simon Pettersson Bids Emotional Farewell to Discus Throwing
Simon Pettersson announces his retirement from discus throwing after an emotional farewell at Finnkampen.
- • 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.
Key details
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.