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Oliver-Sven Buder had emerged as a significant force on the world
shot-putting scene in 1990, when he finished second at the European
Championships, and exceeded 21 metres for the first time. He followed
this with a fourth-place finish at the next year's World Championships,
but after that, his career seemed to temporarily stagnate. Buder did
not compete at the 1992 Olympic Games, finished 7th at the 1993 World
Championships, and failed to qualify for the final of the 1994 European
Championships. His distances also declined during this period, and
after reaching 21 metres or more on three occasions in 1990, his best
throw in the ensuing years was 20.44m in 1994. Oliver-Sven began a
steady revival in 1995, reaching a season's best of 20.84m, and
finishing 6th at the World Championships in Gothenburg (see photo above)
with a best put of 20.11m.
The following year, Buder finished third at
the European Indoor Championships at Stockholm on 8 March, repeating
the result he had achieved six years earlier. In the outdoor season, he
won his fourth consecutive German national title, and then finished 5th
at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. In 1997, Oliver-Sven achieved his
best result at the World Indoor Championships, when he finished 4th at
Paris on 7 March with a best throw of 20.70m. At the World
Championships in Athens, on 2 August, Buder's opening throw of 20.79m
placed him in second place behind John Godina (USA) after round one.
Godina sealed the competition with a 21.44m throw in round three, but
Buder responded with 21.05m in round four, his first 21-metre throw in
seven years. Not wanting to rest on his laurels, Buder produced a
massive throw of 21.24m on his last attempt, setting a new personal
best, and clinching the silver medal. (Ron Casey)
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