From stadium to cinema: Magnus Kirt’s story comes to the screen
Magnus Kirt (born April 10, 1990 in Tõrva) is an Estonian javelin thrower who needs no introduction to athletics fans. His achievements include five Estonian javelin records, five national titles, podium finishes at both the World and European Championships, two Estonian Male Athlete of the Year titles and two Republic of Estonia Sports Awards. Now, a documentary about Kirt is in the works, exploring the story behind a journey that has been as remarkable as it has been challenging. Before it reaches the screen, we look back at Kirt’s rise to the top.
Magnus Kirt’s first steps from Tõrva onto the world stage
As a youngster, Kirt tried various sports, including high jump and skiing, before turning his focus to javelin a little later. His first international competitions did not immediately propel him to the top of the rankings, but his throws grew longer with each passing year. At the 2009 European Athletics Junior Championships in Serbia, Kirt finished twenty-second with a throw of 63.75. Five years later, he placed twenty-second at the European Championships in Zurich, this time with 74.33.
His progress continued in the years that followed. At the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, a throw of 78.84 meters brought another twenty-second-place finish, while at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Kirt recorded 79.33. By then, his personal best had already taken him beyond the 80-meter mark, reaching 86.65.
A string of Estonian records and European bronze
Kirt’s career took a major leap forward in 2018, when he broke the Estonian javelin record no fewer than three times. On June 3 at the Gustav Sule Memorial in Tartu, he surpassed Andrus Värnik’s record of 87.83 with a throw of 88.45. Just a few days later, he returned from a competition in Turku with a new record of 88.73, and on July 13, Kirt added more centimeters to the record with a throw of 89.75.
At the European Championships in Berlin that same year, Kirt finished third with a throw of 85.96 meters. To cap it all, he was also crowned Estonian champion for the third time in 2018.
From breaking 90 meters to silver in Doha
2019 proved to be Kirt’s best season. On June 20 that year, he took the Estonian javelin record beyond the magical 90-meter barrier. Competing in Ostrava in the Czech Republic, he sent the javelin an impressive 90.34 meters. Just a couple of days later, Kirt claimed first place in Kuortane, Finland, with an even bigger throw: 90.61.
At the World Championships in Doha that same year, Kirt won silver with a throw of 86.21 meters, but a shoulder injury forced him to cut his competition short. The injury led to a long and difficult period of treatment and recovery. Yet even after a couple of years away from competition, Kirt won another Estonian title in 2022. Despite all his efforts, he eventually had to make the decision to end his career in elite sport.
New challenges in coaching and on screen
Retiring from elite competition did not mean Kirt turned his back on javelin. Instead, he took on the valuable work of advising and coaching young athletes. He has coached several Estonian athletes, including decathlete Johannes Erm and javelin thrower Gedly Tugi. In 2025, he decided to take on a new challenge and begin coaching Oliver Helander, one of Finland’s leading javelin throwers and an Olympic hopeful.
Elite sport requires support beyond the efforts of athletes and coaches. The online casino Chanz, operated by Dreambox Games, has supported Magnus Kirt’s sporting journey over the years. Now, Chanz is also helping bring his story to the big screen. A documentary is in the works that looks back at the career of one of Estonia’s most successful javelin throwers, offering viewers previously unseen moments behind Kirt’s achievements and setbacks. It is the story of an athlete whose competitive career at the highest level has ended, but whose influence and expertise live on in a new role.
Illustrative photo: Hendrik Osula
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