Arsi Harju

Arsi Harju ( Arsi Ilari Harju; born March 18, 1974 in Kurikka ) is a former Finnish shot putter.

1993 Arsi Harju third in the shot put at the European Junior Championships. In the 1996 Olympics he could not qualify for the final,.

His first medal in the senior category Harju won at the European Indoor Championships in 1998 when he finished third with 20.53 m. Behind the German Oliver -Sven Buder ( 21.47 m) won Harjus compatriot Mika Halvari silver with 20.59 meters. In the outdoor European Championships in the same year Harju was ninth with 19.54 m. After a fifth place with 20.38 m at the World Indoor Championships in 1999 he qualified for the finals at the World Championships in Seville for the first time in the summer, then in the finals but managed a valid shock.

At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney Harju turned in the qualification with 21.39 m personal best on. In the final he won with 21.29 m in her second attempt before the Americans Adam Nelson with 21,21 m and 21,20 m with John Godina. Harju could get with his victory eighty years after Ville Pörhölä the second gold medal in the shot put to Finland.

2001 then succeeded Harju also at the World Championships a good competition. Behind John Godina ( 21.87 m) and Adam Nelson ( 21.24 m) Harju won with 20,93 m bronze. He was only two inches in front of the Spaniard Manuel Martínez and the Yugoslavs Dragan Peric.

2002 occupied Harju at the European Championships in 2002 with 20.47 m in fourth place, 12 cm behind the German Ralf Bartels in third place. Also finished fourth at the World Indoor Championships Harju 2003. 20.96 m with he was 17 cm behind and 28 cm bronze behind gold back.