Hammer thrower and 2004 champion of the Athens Olympics Koji Murofushi

Murofushi, who competed as one of the top athletes in his field, took the title with a throw of 81.42 meters. He claimed the same title at the 2002 Grand Prix Final, the predecessor to the World Athletics Final.

It was the sixth victory for the Japanese hammer thrower this season.

Murofushi never relinquished the lead he took with the winning mark on his first attempt, and though he was called for a foul when his hammer veered to the left on his third throw, he made a shot of around 83 meters.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 16, 2006
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