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Javelin throw

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Athletics
Javelin throw
German javelin throwerThomas Röhlerin 2011
World records
MenCzech RepublicJan Železný98.48 m (323 ft 1 in) (1996)
WomenCzech RepublicBarbora Špotáková72.28 m (237 ft 1 in) (2008)
Olympic records
MenNorwayAndreas Thorkildsen90.57 m (297 ft 1 in) (2008)
WomenCubaOsleidys Menéndez71.53 m (234 ft 8 in) (2004)
World Championship records
MenCzech RepublicJan Železný92.80 m (304 ft 5 in) (2001)
WomenCubaOsleidys Menéndez71.70 m (235 ft 2 in) (2005)
German javelin throwerStephan Stedingduring the2007 World Championships in AthleticsinOsaka,Japan

Thejavelin throwis atrack and fieldevent where thejavelin,aspearabout 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in length, is thrown as far as possible. The javelin thrower gainsmomentumby running within a predetermined area. Javelin throwing is an event of both the men'sdecathlonand the women'sheptathlon.

History[edit]

A scene depicting javelin throwers and other pentathletes. Originally found on a Panathenaic amphora from Ancient Greece, circa 525 B.C. British Museum.
Julius Saaristoin1912 Summer Olympics

The javelin throw was added to theAncient Olympic Gamesas part of thepentathlonin 708 BC.[1]It included two events, one for distance and the other for accuracy in hitting a target. The javelin was thrown with the aid of a thong (ankylein Greek) that was wound around the middle of the shaft. Athletes held the javelin by theankyle,a leather strap around the shaft, so when they released the javelin, the unwinding of the thong gave the javelin a spiral trajectory.[2]

Throwing javelin-like poles into targets was revived inGermanyandSwedenin the early 1870s. In Sweden, these poles developed into the modern javelin, and throwing them for distance became a common event there and inFinlandin the 1880s. The rules continued to evolve over the next decades; originally, javelins were thrown with no run-up, and holding them by the grip at the center of gravity was not always mandatory. Limited run-ups were introduced in the late 1890s, and soon developed into the modern unlimited run-up.[3]: 435–436 

Sweden'sEric Lemming,who threw his first world best (49.32 meters) in 1899 and ruled the event from 1902 to 1912, was the first dominant javelin thrower.[3]: 436, 441 [4]: 478 When the men's javelin was introduced as an Olympic discipline at the1906 Intercalated Games,Lemming won by almost nine metres and broke his own world record; Sweden swept the first four places, as Finland's best throwers were absent and the event had yet to become popular in any other country.[3]: 437 Though challenged by younger talents, Lemming repeated as Olympic champion in 1908 and 1912; his eventual best mark (62.32 m, thrown after the 1912 Olympics) was the first javelin world record to be officially ratified by theInternational Association of Athletics Federations.[3]: 436–441 [5]

In the late 19th and early 20th century, most javelin competitions were two-handed; the implement was thrown with the right hand and separately with the left hand, and the best marks for each hand were added together. Competitions for the better hand only were less common, though not unknown.[4]At the Olympics, a both-hands contest was held only once, in1912;Finland swept the medals, ahead of Lemming.[3]: 441 After that, this version of the javelin rapidly faded into obscurity, together with similar variations of the shot and the discus; Sweden'sYngve Häckner,with his total of 114.28 m from 1917, was the last official both-hands world record holder.[6]

Another early variant was the freestyle javelin, in which holding the javelin by the grip at the center of gravity was not mandatory; such afreestyle competitionwas held at the 1908 Olympics, but was dropped from the program after that.[4]: 478 Hungary'sMór Kóczánused a freestyle end grip to break the 60-meter barrier in 1911, a year before Lemming andJulius Saaristofirst did so with a regular grip.[3]: 440 [7]: 214 

The first known women's javelin marks were recorded in Finland in 1909.[8]Originally, women threw the same implement as men; a lighter, shorter javelin for women was introduced in the 1920s. Women's javelin throw was added to the Olympic program in 1932;Mildred "Babe" Didriksonof the United States became the first champion.[4]: 479 

For a long time, javelins were made of solid wood, typically birch, with a steel tip. The hollow, highly aerodynamic Held javelin, invented by American throwerBud Heldand developed and manufactured by his brother Dick, was introduced in the 1950s; the first Held javelins were also wooden with steel tips, but later models were made entirely of metal.[4]: 478–479 [8][9]These new javelins flew further, but were also less likely to land neatly point first; as a response to the increasingly frequent flat or ambiguously flat landings, experiments with modified javelins started in the early 1980s. The resulting designs, which made flat landings much less common and reduced the distances thrown, became official for men starting in April 1986 and for women in April 1999, and the world records (then 104.80 m byUwe Hohn,and 80.00 m byPetra Felke) were reset.[10]The current (as of 2017) men's world record is held byJan Železnýat 98.48 m (1996);Barbora Špotákováholds the women's world record at 72.28 m (2008).

Of the 69 Olympic medals that have been awarded in the men's javelin, 32 have gone to competitors from Norway, Sweden or Finland. Finland is the only nation to have swept the medals at a currently recognized official Olympics, and has done so twice, in 1920 and 1932, in addition to its 1912 sweep in the two-handed javelin; in 1920 Finland swept the first four places, which is no longer possible as only three entrants per country are allowed. Finland has, however, never been nearly as successful in the women's javelin.[4]: 479 

The javelin throw has been part of thedecathlonsince the decathlon was introduced in the early 1910s; the all-around, an earlier ten-event contest of American origin, did not include the javelin throw. The javelin was also part of some (though not all) of the many early forms of women's pentathlon and has always been included in theheptathlonafter it replaced the pentathlon in 1981.[11]

Rules and competitions[edit]

The size, shape, minimum weight, and center of gravity of the javelin are all defined byWorld Athleticsrules. In international competition, men throw a javelin between 2.6 and 2.7 m (8 ft 6 in and 8 ft 10 in) in length and 800 g (28 oz) in weight, and women throw a javelin between 2.2 and 2.3 m (7 ft 3 in and 7 ft 7 in) in length and 600 g (21 oz) in weight. The javelin has a grip, about 150 mm (5.9 in) wide, made of cord and located at the javelin's center of gravity (0.9 to 1.06 m (2 ft 11 in to 3 ft 6 in)) from the javelin tip for the men's javelin and 0.8 to 0.92 m (2 ft 7 in to 3 ft 0 in) from the javelin tip for the women's javelin.

Matti Järvinenthrowing the javelin at the 1932 Olympics

Unlike the other throwing events (shot put,discus,andhammer), the technique used to throw the javelin is dictated by World Athletics rules and "non-orthodox" techniques are not permitted. The javelin must be held at its grip and thrown overhand, over the athlete's shoulder or upper arm. Further, the athlete is prohibited from turning completely around or starting with their back facing the direction of the throw. This prevents athletes from attempting to spin and hurl the javelin sidearm in the style of adiscus throw.This rule was put in place when a group of athletes began experimenting with a spin technique referred to as "free style". On 24 October 1956,Pentti Saarikoskithrew 99.52 m (326 ft 6 in)[12]using the technique holding the end of the javelin. Officials were so afraid of the out of control nature of the technique that the practice was banned through these rule specifications.

Instead of being confined to a circle, javelin throwers have a runway 4 m (13 ft) wide and at least 30 m (98 ft) in length, ending in an 8 m (26 ft) radiusthrowing arcfrom which their throw is measured; athletes typically use this distance to gain momentum in a "run-up" to their throw. Like the other throwing events, the competitor may not leave the throwing area (the runway) until after the implement lands. The need to come to a stop behind the throwing arc limits both how close the athlete can come to the line before the release as well as the maximum speed achieved at the time of release.

The javelin is thrown towards a 28.96ºcircular sectorthat is centered on the center point of the throwing arc. The angle of the throwing sector (28.96º) provides sector boundaries that are easy to construct and lay out on a field.[13]A throw is only legal if the tip of the javelin lands within this sector and first strikes the ground with its tip before any other part.[14]The distance of the throw is measured from the throwing arc to the point where the tip of the javelin landed, rounded down to the nearest centimeter.

Competition rules are similar to other throwing events: aroundconsists of one attempt by each competitor in turn, and competitions typically consist of three to six rounds. The competitor with the longest single legal throw (over all rounds) is the winner; in case of a tie, the competitors' second-longest throws are also considered. Competitions involving large numbers of athletes sometimes use acutwhereby all competitors compete in the first three rounds but only those who are currently among the top eight or have achieved some minimum distances are permitted to attempt to improve on their distance in additional rounds (typically three).

The javelin is almost always thrown outdoors, though it is rarely thrownindoors.The world record for men's indoor javelin throw is 85.78 metres byMatti Närhiin 1996.[15]

Javelin redesigns[edit]

Uwe Hohn(pictured in 1984) holds the "eternal world record" with a throw of 104.80 m, as a new type of javelin (less debate of landing spot, less danger of reaching the spectators) was implemented in 1986.

On 1 April 1986, the men's javelin (800grams(1.76lb)) was redesigned by the governing body (theIAAFTechnical Committee). They decided to change the rules for javelin design because of the increasingly frequent flat landings and the resulting discussions and protests when these attempts were declared valid or invalid by competition judges. The world record had also crept up to a potentially dangerous level, 104.80 m (343.8 ft) byUwe Hohn.With throws exceeding 100 meters, it was becoming difficult to safely stage the competition within the confines of a stadium infield. The javelin was redesigned so that thecentre of gravitywas moved 4 cm (1.6 in) forward. In addition, the surface area in front of centre of gravity was reduced, while the surface area behind the centre of gravity was increased. This had an effect similar to that produced by the feathers on an arrow. The javelin turns into therelative wind.This relative wind appears to originate from the ground as the javelin descends, thus the javelin turns to face the ground. As the javelin turns into the wind less lift is generated, reducing the flight distance by around 10% but also causing the javelin to stick in the ground more consistently. In 1999, the women's javelin (600 grams (1.32 lb)) was similarly redesigned.[16]

Modifications that manufacturers made to recover some of the lost distance, by increasing tail drag (using holes, rough paint or dimples), were forbidden at the end of 1991 and performances made using implements with such modifications removed from the record books.Seppo Rätyhad achieved a world record of 96.96 m (318.1 ft) in 1991 with such a design, but this record was nullified.

See also:Timeline of changes in the sport of athletics

Weight rules by age group[edit]

The weight of the javelin in theUnder-20category is the same as theseniorlevel.[17]

Men Women
Age group Weight Weight
U14 400 g (14 oz)
U16 600 g (1 lb 5 oz) 500 g (1 lb 2 oz)
U18 700 g (1 lb 9 oz)
Junior (U20) 800 g (1 lb 12 oz) 600 g (1 lb 5 oz)
Senior
35–49
50–74 500 g (1 lb 2 oz)
50–59 700 g (1 lb 9 oz)
60–69 600 g (1 lb 5 oz)
70–79 500 g (1 lb 2 oz)
75+ 400 g (14 oz)
80+ 400 g (14 oz)

Technique and training[edit]

Unlike other throwing events, javelin allows the competitor to build speed over a considerable distance. In addition, the core and upper body strength is necessary to deliver the implement, javelin throwers benefit from the agility and athleticism typically associated with running and jumping events. Thus, the athletes share more physical characteristics with sprinters than with others, although they still need the skill of heavier throwing athletes.

Traditional free-weight training is often used by javelin throwers. Metal-rod exercises and resistance band exercises can be used to train a similar action to the javelin throw to increase power and intensity. Without proper strength and flexibility, throwers can become extremely injury prone, especially in the shoulder and elbow. Core stability can help in the transference of physical power and force from the ground through the body to the javelin. Stretching and sprint training are used to enhance the speed of the athlete at the point of release, and subsequently, the speed of the javelin. At release, a javelin can reach speeds approaching 113 km/h (70 mph).

The javelin throw consists of three separate phases: the run-up, the transition, and the delivery. During each phase, the position of the javelin changes while the thrower changes his or her muscle recruitment. In the run-up phase as Luann Voza states, "your arm is bent and kept close to your head, keeping the javelin in alignment with little to no arm movement".[18]This allows the thrower's bicep to contract, flexing the elbow. In order for the javelin to stay up high, the thrower's deltoid flexes. In the transition phase, the thrower's "back muscles contract" as "the javelin is brought back in alignment with the shoulder with the thrower's palm up".[18]This, according to Voza, "stretches your pectoral, or chest, muscles. From there, a stretch reflex, an involuntary contraction of your chest, helps bring your throwing arm forward with increased force".[18]During the final phase, the rotation of the shoulders initiates the release, which then "transfers movement through the triceps muscles, wrists and fingers to extend the throwing arm forward to release the javelin".[18]

Culture[edit]

A women's (600-g, left) and men's (800-g, right) javelin.

In 1994,Michael TorkecomposedJavelin,commissionedby theAtlanta Committee for the Olympic Gamesin celebration of theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra's 50th anniversary season, in conjunction with the1996 Summer Olympics.

Javelin throwers have been selected as a main motif in numerous collectors' coins. One of the recent samples is the €5 Finnish10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics commemorative coin,minted in 2005 to commemorate the2005 World Championships in Athletics.On the obverse of the coin, a javelin thrower is depicted. On the reverse, legs of hurdle runners with theHelsinki Olympic Stadiumtower in the background can be seen.

All-time top 25 (current models)[edit]

Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25distancesand the top 25athletes:
- denotes top performance for an athlete in the top 25distances
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25distances,by a repeat athlete
- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25athleteswho fall outside the top 25distances

Men[edit]

Ath.# Perf.# Mark Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 98.48 m (323 ft 1 in) Jan Železný Czech Republic 25 May 1996 Jena
2 2 97.76 m (320 ft 8 in) Johannes Vetter Germany 6 September 2020 Chorzów [21]
3 96.29 m (315 ft 10 in) Vetter #2 29 May 2021 Chorzów
4 95.66 m (313 ft 10 in) Železný #2 29 August 1993 Sheffield
5 95.54 m (313 ft 5 in)A Železný #3 6 April 1993 Pietersburg
6 94.64 m (310 ft 5 in) Železný #4 31 May 1996 Ostrava
7 94.44 m (309 ft 10 in) Vetter #3 11 July 2017 Luzern
8 94.20 m (309 ft 0 in) Vetter #4 19 May 2021 Ostrava
9 94.02 m (308 ft 5 in) Železný #5 26 March 1997 Stellenbosch
3 10 93.90 m (308 ft 0 in) Thomas Röhler Germany 5 May 2017 Doha [22]
11 93.88 m (308 ft 0 in) Vetter #5 18 August 2017 Thum
12 93.59 m (307 ft 0 in) Vetter #6 26 June 2021 Kuortane
13 93.20 m (305 ft 9 in) Vetter #7 21 May 2021 Dessau
4 14 93.09 m (305 ft 4 in) Aki Parviainen Finland 26 June 1999 Kuortane
5 15 93.07 m (305 ft 4 in) Anderson Peters Grenada 13 May 2022 Doha [23]
16 92.80 m (304 ft 5 in) Železný #6 12 August 2001 Edmonton
6 17 92.72 m (304 ft 2 in) Julius Yego Kenya 26 August 2015 Beijing [24]
18 92.70 m (304 ft 1 in) Vetter #8 11 March 2018 Leiria
7 19 92.61 m (303 ft 10 in) Sergey Makarov Russia 30 June 2002 Sheffield
8 20 92.60 m (303 ft 9 in) Raymond Hecht Germany 14 August 1996 Zürich
21 92.42 m (303 ft 2 in) Železný #7 28 May 1997 Ostrava
22 92.41 m (303 ft 2 in) Parviainen #2 24 June 2001 Vaasa
23 92.28 m (302 ft 9 in) Železný #8 9 September 1995 Monaco
Hecht #2 14 August 1996 Zürich
25 92.14 m (302 ft 3 in) Vetter #9 29 June 2021 Luzern
9 92.06 m (302 ft 0 in) Andreas Hofmann Germany 2 June 2018 Offenburg [25]
10 91.69 m (300 ft 9 in) Konstadinós Gatsioúdis Greece 24 June 2000 Kuortane
11 91.59 m (300 ft 5 in) Andreas Thorkildsen Norway 2 June 2006 Oslo
12 91.53 m (300 ft 3 in) Tero Pitkämäki Finland 26 June 2005 Kuortane
13 91.46 m (300 ft 0 in) Steve Backley United Kingdom 25 January 1992 Auckland [26]
14 91.36 m (299 ft 8 in) Cheng Chao-tsun Chinese Taipei 26 August 2017 Taipei [27]
15 91.29 m (299 ft 6 in) Breaux Greer United States 21 June 2007 Indianapolis
16 90.88 m (298 ft 1 in) Jakub Vadlejch Czech Republic 13 May 2022 Doha [23]
17 90.82 m (297 ft 11 in) Kimmo Kinnunen Finland 26 August 1991 Tokyo
18 90.73 m (297 ft 8 in) Vadims Vasiļevskis Latvia 22 July 2007 Tallinn
19 90.61 m (297 ft 3 in) Magnus Kirt Estonia 22 June 2019 Kuortane [28]
20 90.60 m (297 ft 2 in) Seppo Räty Finland 20 July 1992 Nurmijärvi
21 90.44 m (296 ft 8 in) Boris Henry Germany 9 July 1997 Linz
22 90.20 m (295 ft 11 in) Max Dehning Germany 25 February 2024 Halle [29]
23 90.18 m (295 ft 10 in) Arshad Nadeem Pakistan 7 August 2022 Birmingham [30]
24 90.16 m (295 ft 9 in) Keshorn Walcott Trinidad and Tobago 9 July 2015 Lausanne
25 89.94 m (295 ft 0 in) Neeraj Chopra India 30 June 2022 Stockholm [31]

Women[edit]

  • Correct as of September 2023.[32]
Ath.# Perf.# Mark Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 72.28 m (237 ft 1 in) Barbora Špotáková Czech Republic 13 September 2008 Stuttgart
2 2 71.70 m (235 ft 2 in) Osleidys Menéndez Cuba 14 August 2005 Helsinki
3 71.58 m (234 ft 10 in) Špotáková #2 2 September 2011 Daegu
4 71.54 m (234 ft 8 in) Menéndez #2 1 July 2001 Rethymno
5 71.53 m (234 ft 8 in) Menéndez #3 27 August 2004 Athens
6 71.42 m (234 ft 3 in) Špotáková #3 21 August 2008 Beijing
3 7 71.40 m (234 ft 3 in) Maria Andrejczyk Poland 9 May 2021 Split [33]
4 8 70.53 m (231 ft 4 in) Mariya Abakumova Russia 1 September 2013 Berlin
5 9 70.20 m (230 ft 3 in) Christina Obergföll Germany 23 June 2007 Munich
10 70.03 m (229 ft 9 in) Obergföll #2 14 August 2005 Helsinki
11 69.82 m (229 ft 0 in) Menéndez #4 29 August 2001 Beijing
12 69.81 m (229 ft 0 in) Obergföll #3 31 August 2008 Elstal
13 69.75 m (228 ft 10 in) Abakumova #2 25 August 2013 Elstal
14 69.57 m (228 ft 2 in) Obergföll #4 8 September 2011 Zürich
15 69.55 m (228 ft 2 in) Špotáková #4 9 August 2012 London
16 69.53 m (228 ft 1 in) Menéndez #5 6 August 2001 Edmonton
6 17 69.48 m (227 ft 11 in) Trine Hattestad Norway 28 July 2000 Oslo
18 69.45 m (227 ft 10 in) Špotáková #5 22 July 2011 Monaco
7 19 69.35 m (227 ft 6 in) Sunette Viljoen South Africa 9 June 2012 New York City
20 69.34 m (227 ft 5 in) Abakumova #3 16 March 2013 Castellón
8 21 69.19 m (227 ft 0 in) Christin Hussong Germany 30 May 2021 Chorzów [34]
22 69.15 m (226 ft 10 in) Špotáková #6 31 May 2008 Zaragoza
23 69.09 m (226 ft 8 in) Abakumova #4 16 August 2013 Moscow
24 69.05 m (226 ft 6 in) Obergföll #5 18 August 2013 Moscow
25 68.94 m (226 ft 2 in) Abakumova #5 29 August 2013 Zürich
9 68.92 m (226 ft 1 in) Kathryn Mitchell Australia 11 April 2018 Gold Coast [35]
10 68.43 m (224 ft 6 in) Sara Kolak Croatia 6 July 2017 Lausanne [36]
11 68.34 m (224 ft 2 in) Steffi Nerius Germany 31 August 2008 Elstal
12 68.11 m (223 ft 5 in) Kara Winger United States 2 September 2022 Brussels [37]
13 67.98 m (223 ft 0 in) Lü Huihui China 2 August 2019 Shenyang [38]
14 67.70 m (222 ft 1 in) Kelsey-Lee Barber Australia 9 July 2019 Lucerne [39]
15 67.69 m (222 ft 0 in) Katharina Molitor Germany 30 August 2015 Beijing [40]
16 67.67 m (222 ft 0 in) Sonia Bisset Cuba 6 July 2005 Salamanca
17 67.51 m (221 ft 5 in) Mirela Manjani Greece 30 September 2000 Sydney
18 67.47 m (221 ft 4 in) Tatsiana Khaladovich Belarus 7 June 2018 Oslo [41]
19 67.40 m (221 ft 1 in) Nikola Ogrodníková Czech Republic 26 May 2019 Offenburg [42]
Maggie Malone United States 17 July 2021 East Stroudsburg
21 67.38 m (221 ft 0 in) Haruka Kitaguchi Japan 8 September 2023 Brussels [43]
22 67.32 m (220 ft 10 in) Linda Stahl Germany 14 June 2014 New York City
23 67.30 m (220 ft 9 in) Vera Rebrik Russia 19 February 2016 Sochi
24 67.29 m (220 ft 9 in) Hanna Hatsko-Fedusova Ukraine 26 July 2014 Kirovohrad
Liu Shiying China 15 September 2020 Shaoxing [44]

Annulled marks[edit]

  • In 2011,Mariya Abakumovathrew 71.99 metres. This performance was annulled due to doping offences.

All-time top 5 (dimpled models 1990–1991)[edit]

Marks set using dimpled rough-tailed javelins manufactured by several companies were nullified effective 20 September 1991.[7]: 208–209 

Rank Mark Athlete Date Place Ref
1 96.96 Seppo Räty(FIN) 2 June 1991 Punkalaidun [45]
2 91.36 Steve Backley(GBR) 15 September 1991 Sheffield
3 90.84 Raymond Hecht(GER) 8 September 1991 Gengenbach
4 90.82 Kimmo Kinnunen(FIN) 26 August 1991 Tokyo
5 90.72 Jan Železný(TCH) 10 July 1991 Lausanne

All-time top 15 (old models)[edit]

Men[edit]

Rank Mark Athlete Date Place Ref
1 104.80 Uwe Hohn(GDR) 21 July 1984 Berlin
2 99.72 Tom Petranoff(USA) 15 May 1983 Westwood
3 96.72 Ferenc Paragi(HUN) 23 April 1980 Tata
Detlef Michel(GDR) 9 June 1983 Berlin
5 95.80 Bob Roggy(USA) 29 August 1982 Stuttgart
6 95.10 Brian Crouser(USA) 5 August 1985 Eugene
7 94.58 Miklós Németh(HUN) 26 July 1976 Montreal
8 94.22 Michael Wessing(FRG) 3 August 1978 Oslo
9 94.20 Heino Puuste(URS) 5 June 1983 Birmingham
10 94.08 Klaus Wolfermann(FRG) 5 May 1973 Leverkusen
11 94.06 Duncan Atwood(USA) 26 July 1985 Eugene
12 93.90 Hannu Siitonen(FIN) 6 June 1973 Helsinki
13 93.84 Pentti Sinersaari(FIN) 27 January 1979 Auckland
14 93.80 Jānis Lūsis(URS) 6 July 1972 Stockholm
15 93.70 Viktor Yevsyukov(URS) 17 July 1985 Kyiv

Women[edit]

Tessa Sandersonappeared in everySummer Olympicsfrom 1976 to 1996, winning the gold medal in thejavelin at the 1984 Olympics.She was the first Black British woman to win an Olympic gold medal, and the secondtrack and fieldathlete tocompete at six Olympics.Sanderson won gold medals at threeCommonwealth Gamesand at the1992 IAAF World Cup.She set fiveCommonwealth recordsand tenBritish national recordsin the javelin, as well as records at junior andmasterslevels. Sanderson had a rivalry with fellow BritonFatima Whitbread,who took the bronze in the 1984 Olympics.
Rank Mark Athlete Date Place Ref
1 80.00 Petra Felke(GDR) 8 September 1988 Potsdam
2 77.44 Fatima Whitbread(GBR) 28 August 1986 Stuttgart
3 74.76 Tiina Lillak(FIN) 13 June 1983 Tampere
4 74.20 Sofia Sakorafa(GRE) 26 September 1982 Hania
5 73.58 Tessa Sanderson(GBR) 26 June 1983 Edinburgh
6 72.70 Anna Verouli(GRE) 20 May 1984 Hania
7 72.16 Antje Kempe(GDR) 5 May 1984 Celje
8 72.12 Trine Hattestad(NOR) 10 July 1993 Oslo
9 71.88 Antoaneta Todorova(BUL) 15 August 1981 Zagreb
10 71.82 Ivonne Leal(CUB) 30 August 1985 Leverkusen
11 71.40 Natalya Shikolenko(BLR) 5 June 1994 Sevilla
12 71.00 Silke Renk(GDR) 25 June 1988 Rostock
13 70.76 Beate Koch(GDR) 22 June 1989 Rostock
14 70.42 Zhang Li(CHN) 6 August 1990 Tianjin
15 70.20 Karen Forkel(GER) 9 May 1991 Halle

Olympic medalists[edit]

Men[edit]

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1908 London
details
Eric Lemming
Sweden
Arne Halse
Norway
Otto Nilsson
Sweden
1912 Stockholm
details
Eric Lemming
Sweden
Julius Saaristo
Finland
Mór Kóczán
Hungary
1920 Antwerp
details
Jonni Myyrä
Finland
Urho Peltonen
Finland
Pekka Johansson
Finland
1924 Paris
details
Jonni Myyrä
Finland
Gunnar Lindström
Sweden
Eugene Oberst
United States
1928 Amsterdam
details
Erik Lundqvist
Sweden
Béla Szepes
Hungary
Olav Sunde
Norway
1932 Los Angeles
details
Matti Järvinen
Finland
Matti Sippala
Finland
Eino Penttilä
Finland
1936 Berlin
details
Gerhard Stöck
Germany
Yrjö Nikkanen
Finland
Kalervo Toivonen
Finland
1948 London
details
Tapio Rautavaara
Finland
Steve Seymour
United States
József Várszegi
Hungary
1952 Helsinki
details
Cy Young
United States
Bill Miller
United States
Toivo Hyytiäinen
Finland
1956 Melbourne
details
Egil Danielsen
Norway
Janusz Sidło
Poland
Viktor Tsybulenko
Soviet Union
1960 Rome
details
Viktor Tsybulenko
Soviet Union
Walter Krüger
United Team of Germany
Gergely Kulcsár
Hungary
1964 Tokyo
details
Pauli Nevala
Finland
Gergely Kulcsár
Hungary
Jānis Lūsis
Soviet Union
1968 Mexico City
details
Jānis Lūsis
Soviet Union
Jorma Kinnunen
Finland
Gergely Kulcsár
Hungary
1972 Munich
details
Klaus Wolfermann
West Germany
Jānis Lūsis
Soviet Union
Bill Schmidt
United States
1976 Montreal
details
Miklós Németh
Hungary
Hannu Siitonen
Finland
Gheorghe Megelea
Romania
1980 Moscow
details
Dainis Kūla
Soviet Union
Aleksandr Makarov
Soviet Union
Wolfgang Hanisch
East Germany
1984 Los Angeles
details
Arto Härkönen
Finland
David Ottley
Great Britain
Kenth Eldebrink
Sweden
1988 Seoul
details
Tapio Korjus
Finland
Jan Železný
Czechoslovakia
Seppo Räty
Finland
1992 Barcelona
details
Jan Železný
Czechoslovakia
Seppo Räty
Finland
Steve Backley
Great Britain
1996 Atlanta
details
Jan Železný
Czech Republic
Steve Backley
Great Britain
Seppo Räty
Finland
2000 Sydney
details
Jan Železný
Czech Republic
Steve Backley
Great Britain
Sergey Makarov
Russia
2004 Athens
details
Andreas Thorkildsen
Norway
Vadims Vasiļevskis
Latvia
Sergey Makarov
Russia
2008 Beijing
details
Andreas Thorkildsen
Norway
Ainārs Kovals
Latvia
Tero Pitkämäki
Finland
2012 London
details
Keshorn Walcott
Trinidad and Tobago
Antti Ruuskanen
Finland
Vítězslav Veselý
Czech Republic
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Thomas Röhler
Germany
Julius Yego
Kenya
Keshorn Walcott
Trinidad and Tobago
2020 Tokyo
details
Neeraj Chopra
India
Jakub Vadlejch
Czech Republic
Vítězslav Veselý
Czech Republic
2024 Paris
details

Women[edit]

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1932 Los Angeles
details
Babe Didrikson
United States
Ellen Braumüller
Germany
Tilly Fleischer
Germany
1936 Berlin
details
Tilly Fleischer
Germany
Luise Krüger
Germany
Maria Kwaśniewska
Poland
1948 London
details
Herma Bauma
Austria
Kaisa Parviainen
Finland
Lily Carlstedt
Denmark
1952 Helsinki
details
Dana Zátopková
Czechoslovakia
Aleksandra Chudina
Soviet Union
Yelena Gorchakova
Soviet Union
1956 Melbourne
details
Inese Jaunzeme
Soviet Union
Marlene Ahrens
Chile
Nadezhda Konyayeva
Soviet Union
1960 Rome
details
Elvīra Ozoliņa
Soviet Union
Dana Zátopková
Czechoslovakia
Birutė Kalėdienė
Soviet Union
1964 Tokyo
details
Mihaela Peneș
Romania
Márta Rudas
Hungary
Yelena Gorchakova
Soviet Union
1968 Mexico City
details
Angéla Németh
Hungary
Mihaela Peneș
Romania
Eva Janko
Austria
1972 Munich
details
Ruth Fuchs
East Germany
Jacqueline Todten
East Germany
Kate Schmidt
United States
1976 Montreal
details
Ruth Fuchs
East Germany
Marion Becker
West Germany
Kate Schmidt
United States
1980 Moscow
details
María Caridad Colón
Cuba
Saida Gunba
Soviet Union
Ute Hommola
East Germany
1984 Los Angeles
details
Tessa Sanderson
Great Britain
Tiina Lillak
Finland
Fatima Whitbread
Great Britain
1988 Seoul
details
Petra Felke
East Germany
Fatima Whitbread
Great Britain
Beate Koch
East Germany
1992 Barcelona
details
Silke Renk
Germany
Natalya Shikolenko
Unified Team
Karen Forkel
Germany
1996 Atlanta
details
Heli Rantanen
Finland
Louise McPaul
Australia
Trine Hattestad
Norway
2000 Sydney
details
Trine Hattestad
Norway
Mirela Maniani-Tzelili
Greece
Osleidys Menéndez
Cuba
2004 Athens
details
Osleidys Menéndez
Cuba
Steffi Nerius
Germany
Mirela Maniani
Greece
2008 Beijing
details
Barbora Špotáková
Czech Republic
Christina Obergföll
Germany[46]
Goldie Sayers
Great Britain
2012 London
details
Barbora Špotáková
Czech Republic
Christina Obergföll
Germany
Linda Stahl
Germany
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Sara Kolak
Croatia
Sunette Viljoen
South Africa
Barbora Špotáková
Czech Republic
2020 Tokyo
details
Liu Shiying
China
Maria Andrejczyk
Poland
Kelsey-Lee Barber
Australia
2024 Paris
details

World Championships medalists[edit]

Men[edit]

Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
details
Detlef Michel(GDR) Tom Petranoff(USA) Dainis Kūla(URS)
1987 Rome
details
Seppo Räty(FIN) Viktor Yevsyukov(URS) Jan Železný(TCH)
1991 Tokyo
details
Kimmo Kinnunen(FIN) Seppo Räty(FIN) Vladimir Sasimovich(URS)
1993 Stuttgart
details
Jan Železný(CZE) Kimmo Kinnunen(FIN) Mick Hill(GBR)
1995 Gothenburg
details
Jan Železný(CZE) Steve Backley(GBR) Boris Henry(GER)
1997 Athens
details
Marius Corbett(RSA) Steve Backley(GBR) Konstadinos Gatsioudis(GRE)
1999 Seville
details
Aki Parviainen(FIN) Konstadinos Gatsioudis(GRE) Jan Železný(CZE)
2001 Edmonton
details
Jan Železný(CZE) Aki Parviainen(FIN) Konstadinos Gatsioudis(GRE)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
Sergey Makarov(RUS) Andrus Värnik(EST) Boris Henry(GER)
2005 Helsinki
details
Andrus Värnik(EST) Andreas Thorkildsen(NOR) Sergey Makarov(RUS)
2007 Osaka
details
Tero Pitkämäki(FIN) Andreas Thorkildsen(NOR) Breaux Greer(USA)
2009 Berlin
details
Andreas Thorkildsen(NOR) Guillermo Martínez(CUB) Yukifumi Murakami(JPN)
2011 Daegu
details
Matthias de Zordo(GER) Andreas Thorkildsen(NOR) Guillermo Martínez(CUB)
2013 Moscow
details
Vítězslav Veselý(CZE) Tero Pitkämäki(FIN) Dmitriy Tarabin(RUS)
2015 Beijing
details
Julius Yego(KEN) Ihab Abdelrahman(EGY) Tero Pitkämäki(FIN)
2017 London
details
Johannes Vetter(GER) Jakub Vadlejch(CZE) Petr Frydrych(CZE)
2019 Doha
details
Anderson Peters(GRN) Magnus Kirt(EST) Johannes Vetter(GER)
2022 Eugene
details
Anderson Peters(GRN) Neeraj Chopra(IND) Jakub Vadlejch(CZE)
2023 Budapest
details
Neeraj Chopra(IND) Arshad Nadeem(PAK) Jakub Vadlejch(CZE)

Women[edit]

Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
details
Tiina Lillak(FIN) Fatima Whitbread(GBR) Anna Verouli(GRE)
1987 Rome
details
Fatima Whitbread(GBR) Petra Felke-Meier(GDR) Beate Peters(FRG)
1991 Tokyo
details
Xu Demei(CHN) Petra Felke-Meier(GER) Silke Renk(GER)
1993 Stuttgart
details
Trine Solberg-Hattestad(NOR) Karen Forkel(GER) Natalya Shikolenko(BLR)
1995 Gothenburg
details
Natalya Shikolenko(BLR) Felicia Țilea-Moldovan(ROU) Mikaela Ingberg(FIN)
1997 Athens
details
Trine Solberg-Hattestad(NOR) Joanna Stone(AUS) Tanja Damaske(GER)
1999 Seville
details
Mirela Manjani-Tzelili(GRE) Tatyana Shikolenko(RUS) Trine Solberg-Hattestad(NOR)
2001 Edmonton
details
Osleidys Menéndez(CUB) Mirela Manjani-Tzelili(GRE) Sonia Bisset(CUB)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
Mirela Maniani(GRE) Tatyana Shikolenko(RUS) Steffi Nerius(GER)
2005 Helsinki
details
Osleidys Menéndez(CUB) Christina Obergföll(GER) Steffi Nerius(GER)
2007 Osaka
details
Barbora Špotáková(CZE) Christina Obergföll(GER) Steffi Nerius(GER)
2009 Berlin[47]
details
Steffi Nerius(GER) Barbora Špotáková(CZE) Monica Stoian(ROM)
2011 Daegu[48]
details
Barbora Špotáková(CZE) Sunette Viljoen(RSA) Christina Obergföll(GER)
2013 Moscow
details
Christina Obergföll(GER) Kim Mickle(AUS) Mariya Abakumova(RUS)
2015 Beijing
details
Katharina Molitor(GER) Lü Huihui(CHN) Sunette Viljoen(RSA)
2017 London
details
Barbora Špotáková(CZE) Li Lingwei(CHN) Lü Huihui(CHN)
2019 Doha
details
Kelsey-Lee Barber(AUS) Liu Shiying(CHN) Lü Huihui(CHN)
2022 Eugene
details
Kelsey-Lee Barber(AUS) Kara Winger(USA) Haruka Kitaguchi(JPN)
2023 Budapest
details
Haruka Kitaguchi(JPN) Flor Ruiz(COL) Mackenzie Little(AUS)

Season's bests[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  2. ^"Greek Javelin".Health and Fitness History.Retrieved26 February2024.
  3. ^abcdefJukola, Martti (1935).Huippu-urheilun historia(in Finnish).Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö.
  4. ^abcdefKanerva, Juha; Tikander, Vesa.Urheilulajien synty(in Finnish). Teos.ISBN9789518513455.
  5. ^ "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009"(PDF).Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. pp. Pages 546, 559. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 29 June 2011.Retrieved5 August2009.
  6. ^Vélez Blasco, Miguel."Part III: Llançaments – Tema 12 Javelina"(PDF)(in Catalan). Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya / Federació Catalana d'Atletisme. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2 April 2015.
  7. ^abHymans, Richard; Matrahazi, Imre."IAAF World Records Progression"(PDF)(2015 ed.).International Association of Athletics Federations.Retrieved20 October2015.
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  11. ^IAAF Scoring Tables for Combined Events, pp. 7–10.
  12. ^Pentti Saarikosk
  13. ^"Laying Out Sector Angles for the Track and Field Throwing Events"(PDF).USA Track & Field Pacific Northwest.Retrieved19 March2022.
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  16. ^"Physics: Javelin Designs, what's the significance? – World of Javelin".worldofjavelin.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2015.Retrieved27 March2012.
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  18. ^abcdLuann Voza (21 February 2019)."Describe the Sequence of Arm Muscle Movements in Throwing a Javelin".SportsRec.Retrieved24 February2019.
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  21. ^Bob Ramsak (6 September 2020)."Vetter threatens javelin world record with 97.76m throw in Silesia".World Athletics.Retrieved15 September2020.
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  23. ^abJon Mulkeen (14 May 2022)."Peters prevails in javelin thriller at windy Diamond League debut in Doha".World Athletics.Retrieved26 May2022.
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  25. ^"Hofmann improves to 92.06m in Offenburg".European Athletics. 3 June 2018.Retrieved4 June2018.
  26. ^British Athletics."British Athletics Official WebsiteSteve Backley".britishathletics.org.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 23 September 2015.
  27. ^"UNIVERSIADE: Taiwan's Cheng wins record-breaking gold in javelin".focustaiwan.tw.26 August 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 26 August 2017.Retrieved26 August2017.
  28. ^"Kirt extends world lead in the javelin to 90.61m in Kuortane".European Athletics. 22 June 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 23 June 2019.Retrieved26 June2019.
  29. ^"Over 90 metres at 19! Dehning throws 90.20m in Haale".European Athletics. 25 February 2024.Retrieved26 February2024.
  30. ^"Athletics Commonwealth Games 2022, Highlights: Eldhose Paul, Aboobacker on podium in triple jump; Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem wins javelin gold".7 August 2022.
  31. ^Simon Turnbull (30 June 2022)."Duplantis scales 6.16m in Stockholm for highest ever outdoor vault".World Athletics.Retrieved16 July2022.
  32. ^"All-time women's best Javelin throw".alltime-athletics.com.Retrieved9 January2017.
  33. ^Jess Whittington (9 May 2021)."Rojas opens with 15.14m, Andrejczyk throws 71.40m".World Athletics.Retrieved20 May2021.
  34. ^Jess Whittington (29 May 2021)."Vetter throws 96.29m in Silesia for third best javelin mark in history".World Athletics.Retrieved22 June2021.
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  37. ^Jon Mulkeen (2 September 2022)."Krop, Mahuchikh and Winger bounce back in Brussels with world-leading marks".World Athletics.Retrieved14 September2022.
  38. ^Jon Mulkeen (4 August 2019)."National championships round-up: Mihambo leaps world-leading 7.16m in Berlin".IAAF.Retrieved12 August2019.
  39. ^Diego Sampaolo (9 July 2019)."Barber and Röhler in the spotlight in Lucerne".IAAF.Retrieved26 July2019.
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  42. ^"Javelin Throw Results".laportal.net.26 May 2019.Retrieved26 July2019.
  43. ^"Javelin Throw Result"(PDF).sportresult.com.8 September 2023.Retrieved8 September2023.
  44. ^Jon Mulkeen (18 September 2020)."Wang and Liu impress at Chinese Championships".World Athletics.Retrieved30 September2020.
  45. ^Larsson, Peter."Track & Field all-time performances: Men's non-legal javelin".Retrieved2 May2018.
  46. ^Mariya Abakumova,from Russia, was disqualified in 2016, after retesting. Sayers was later confirmed as the bronze medalist.
  47. ^Original bronze medalist RussianMariya Abakumovawas later disqualified for failing retests of samples
  48. ^Original gold medalist RussianMariya Abakumovawas later disqualified for failing retests of samples

External links[edit]