Backley just short with first throw

Steve Backley came close to making the perfect start to his final bid for Olympic gold in Athens tonight.

Backley was just 40 centimetres short of the automatic qualifying standard for Saturday’s javelin final with his first throw in the heats.

The 35-year-old Briton had already seen four of his competitors achieve the mark of 81m or better, American Breaux Greer leading the way with an impressive 87.25m.

But Backley’s first effort dropped just short of the blue line stretched across the in-field in the Olympic stadium, measured at 80.60m, meaning he will have two more attempts to reach the final.

Czech superstar Jan Zelezny has won every Olympic title since Barcelona in 1992 with Backley claiming bronze in Spain and silver in Atlanta and Sydney.

However, Zelezny comes into these Games with doubts surrounding his fitness.