The 23-year-old athlete earned a ranking score of 1,324 points, cementing his status among the world’s elite javelin throwers and marking one of the greatest achievements in Sri Lankan athletics history.
Tharanga’s rise in the rankings comes on the back of a spectacular performance at the Diamond League Rome Meeting in Rome, where he produced a stunning throw of 92.62 metres to win the men’s javelin event and rewrite the record books.
The remarkable effort not only secured victory but also established a new Sri Lankan national record, surpassing previous marks by a significant margin. The throw is now recognized as the second-longest by an Asian athlete and the eighth-best performance in world history, placing Tharanga among the sport’s all-time greats.
In Rome, Tharanga outclassed a world-class field that included reigning stars such as Anderson Peters of Grenada, Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, Thomas Röhler of Germany, and Curtis Thompson of the United States.
The victory has elevated Tharanga’s reputation on the global stage and strengthened expectations that he could become a serious medal contender at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Athletics observers have hailed the achievement as a landmark moment for Sri Lankan sport, with Tharanga’s record-breaking performance bringing unprecedented international attention to the nation’s athletics program.
As Sri Lanka celebrates the emergence of a new sporting star, Tharanga’s historic rise to World No. 3 stands as a symbol of the country's growing presence in global athletics and a source of inspiration for the next generation of athletes.
“This is a proud moment not only for me but for Sri Lanka,” Tharanga said following his breakthrough season. “I will continue to work hard and aim even higher in the years ahead.”
With several major international competitions still ahead, the world will be watching closely as Rumesh Tharanga continues his pursuit of excellence and Olympic glory.
