Gerdas Kanteris has recently moved through several positions.
The longtime rival of Virgilijus Alekna from Estonia, who became an Olympic and world champion, ended his discus thrower career in 2018 but remained in the sports field.
- Gerdas Kanteris won Olympic gold in 2008 and Olympic bronze in 2012.
- He won five medals at the World Championships, including one gold in 2007.
- The Estonian also has four European Championship medals – three silver and one bronze.
A few years ago, G. Kanteris coached Slovenian discus star Kristjan Čeh for a couple of years, who became world and European champion, and this year the Slovenian won his second continental champion title in Birmingham without the Estonian’s help.
After parting ways with K. Čeh, the Estonian also coached Qatari discus thrower Moaaz Mohamed Ibrahim.
In recent years, the former discus thrower was vice president of the Estonian Olympic Committee, and in the spring temporarily served as the organization’s president.
After the elections, G. Kanteris helps the Estonian Olympic Committee by working with judo talent Marek-Adrian Masak under the youth sports stars program.
He also holds a leadership position in another sports project, through which Estonians strive to have children in primary school try at least a few sports.
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Now G. Kanteris can return closer to the event he cultivated for many years.
In an interview with “Postimees,” the 47-year-old Estonian confirmed that he may soon start working with Jamaican discus thrower Rojay Stona, who unexpectedly won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, beating Mykolas Alekna by three centimeters.
After the games, R. Stona’s results were no longer as high, although the Jamaican remains among the strongest discus throwers and is expected this weekend at the discus throwing competition in Vilnius Vingis Park.
“Negotiations are still ongoing. I can’t say anything more right now,” said G. Kanteris about working with the Jamaican.
He believes the 27-year-old Jamaican still has potential:
“His assistant at competitions is currently shot putter Ryan Crouser.
However, today Stona lags a few meters behind the top discus throwers. Mykolas Alekna and Čeh consistently throw 70 meters and more. He (Stona) competes better in the second part of the season, was third in the Diamond League, but still lacks to reach the top. On the other hand, his abilities are the same as those of the two men mentioned.”
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