Four years after cracking under pressure in Sydney, Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi has grown in confidence and experience and is heading for Athens as an undisputed medal contender.

News photoKoji Murofushi, who has won silver and bronze medals at the past two World Championships, will be a strong medal contender in the hammer throw.

Murofushi takes his unbeaten record for this year to the Aug. 22 Olympic hammer throw competition, where the two-time World Championship medalist squares off against Ivan Tikhon of Belarus and Hungarian Adrian Annus for the spot on the top of the podium.