Jakub Vadlejch

{{Infobox sportsperson

|headercolor =

|name = Jakub Vadlejch

|native_name =

|native_name_lang =

|image = Jakub Vadlejch at Josef Odlozil Memorial in Prague 14June2010 014.jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Vadlejch in 2010

|nationality = Czech

|residence =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|10|10|df=y}}

|birth_place = Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic)

|height = 1.90 m

|weight = 93 kg

|spouse =

|website =

|country = {{CZE}}

|sport = Track and field

|rank =3

|event = Javelin throw

|collegeteam =

|universityteam =

|club =

|team =

|turnedpro =

|worlds =

|regionals =

|nationals =

|olympics =

|highestranking =

|pb = 90.88 m (2022)

|show-medals = yes

|medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{CZE}}}}

}}

Jakub Vadlejch ({{IPA|cs|ˈjakub ˈvadlɛjx}}; born 10 October 1990) is a Czech track and field athlete who competes in the javelin throw.{{cite web|title=Jakub Vadlejch|url=http://www.london2012.com/athlete/vadlejch-jakub-1109032/|publisher=London 2012|accessdate=2012-08-27|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730193910/http://www.london2012.com/athlete/vadlejch-jakub-1109032/|archivedate=2012-07-30}} He is a four-time Olympian for the Czech Republic, having competed in 2012, 2016,2020 and 2024 winning a silver medal in 2020. He also has represented his country six times at the World Championships in Athletics (2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023), winning the bronze medal in 2022 and 2023 and silver medal in 2017, and six times a competitor at the European Athletics Championships (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2024), winning the silver medal in 2022 and the gold medal in 2024. He also won the 2016 Diamond League title, 2017 Diamond League title, and the 2023 Diamond League Title.

Career

Born in Prague, Vadlejch took part in international javelin competitions from a young age, reaching the finals at the 2007 World Youth Championships in Athletics, 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics and the 2009 European Athletics Junior Championships. His senior debut followed at the 2010 European Athletics Championships, where he threw in qualifying only. He competed in the javelin throw at the 2012 Summer Olympics and placed 25th with a mark of 77.61 metres.{{cite web|title=Men's Javelin Throw Qualification Standings|url=http://www.london2012.com/athletics/event/men-javelin-throw/phase=atm053900/index.html|publisher=London 2012|accessdate=2012-08-27|archive-date=2012-12-06|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206010028/http://www.london2012.com/athletics/event/men-javelin-throw/phase=atm053900/index.html|url-status=dead}} He was eliminated in the qualifying round at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, 2014 European Athletics Championships, and 2015 World Championships in Athletics.

Vadlejch had his breakthrough season in 2016. He reached the final at the 2016 Summer Olympics, taking eighth place, and took victory on the 2016 IAAF Diamond League circuit, with three wins and a personal best of {{T&Fcalc|88.02}} in the process. At the 2017 World Championships he set his new personal best, {{T&Fcalc|89.73}}, winning the silver medal.

= 2020 Tokyo Olympic =

He won the silver medal in the Men's Javelin throw event. He finished at the second spot behind India's Neeraj Chopra.[https://www.news18.com/amp/news/sports/neeraj-chopra-men-javelin-throw-live-updates-score-tokyo-olympics-india-athletics-latest-news-result-neeraj-live-streaming-details-4056974.html Tokyo Olympics - Neeraj Chopra Makes History, Wins 1st Gold in Athletics and 2nd Individual Overall: Highlights] News18{{Cite web|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/amp/neeraj-chopra-wins-men-s-javelin-gold|title=Chopra goes farthest for men's javelin gold as Vadlejch takes silver and Veselý goes bronze|website=olympics.com|language=English|access-date=7 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807125550/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/amp/neeraj-chopra-wins-men-s-javelin-gold|url-status=dead}}

== 2024 ==

In November 2024 he was declared for the forth consecutive time, Czech Athlete of the year. He came in first just before bronze javelin thrower medalist in Paris 2024, Nikola Ogrodníková.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-03 |title=Jakub Vadlejch named Czech Athlete of the Year for fourth straight year |url=https://english.radio.cz/jakub-vadlejch-named-czech-athlete-year-fourth-straight-year-8833497 |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Radio Prague International |language=en}}

International competitions

{{AchievementTable}}
colspan="5"\|Representing {{CZE}}
2007 \|World Youth Championships \|Ostrava, Czech Republic \|12th \|65.63 m700 g javelin
2008 \|World Junior Championships \|Bydgoszcz, Poland \|10th \|68.79 m
2009 \|European Junior Championships \|Novi Sad, Serbia \|8th \|69.63 m
2010 \|European Championships \|Barcelona, Spain \|16th (q) \|76.04 m
rowspan=2\|2011 \|European U23 Championships \|Ostrava, Czech Republic \| – \|NM
World Championships \|Daegu, South Korea \|16th (q) \|80.08 m
2012 \|Olympic Games \|London, United Kingdom \|25th (q) \|77.61 m
2014 \|European Championships \|Zürich, Switzerland \|20th (q) \|75.14 m
2015 \|World Championships \|Beijing, China \|20th (q) \|78.95 m
rowspan=2\|2016 \|European Championships \|Amsterdam, Netherlands \|9th \|78.12 m
Olympic Games \|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil \|8th \|82.42 m
2017 \|World Championships \|London, United Kingdom \|bgcolor=silver\|2nd \|89.73 m
2018 \|European Championships \|Berlin, Germany \|8th \|80.64 m
2019 \|World Championships \|Doha, Qatar \|5th \|82.19 m
2021 \|Olympic Games \|Tokyo, Japan \|bgcolor=silver\|2nd \|86.67 m
rowspan=2\|2022 \|World Championships \|Eugene, Oregon \| bgcolor=cc9966\|3rd \|88.09 m
European Championships \|Munich, Germany \|bgcolor=silver\|2nd \|87.28 m
2023 \|World Championships \|Budapest, Hungary \|bgcolor=cc9966\|3rd \|86.67 m
rowspan=2\|2024 \|European Championships \|Rome, Italy \|bgcolor=gold\|1st \|88.65 m
Olympic Games \|Paris, France \|4th \|88.50 m

colspan="5"|Representing {{CZE}}

2007

|World Youth Championships

|Ostrava, Czech Republic

|12th

|65.63 m700 g javelin

2008

|World Junior Championships

|Bydgoszcz, Poland

|10th

|68.79 m

2009