Javelin Throw

Javelins (or spears) were originally used as hunting weapons, but some kind of javelin throw was already practiced at the ancient Olympic Games. Javelin throw especially has a strong tradition in Scandinavian countries - 30 out of 66 Olympic medals went to competitors from Norway, Sweden or Denmark.

The goal of this event to throw the javelin, weighing at least 800 g and measuring approximately 2,5 m in length, as far as possible into a sector 29° wide where it has to land tip-first. Javelins were redesigned (shifting the centre of gravity forward) in 1986 to avoid flat landings and also decreasing the flight distance (stadiums were becoming to small for throws over 100 m).

The javelin has to be held at a cord grip wrapped around the centre of gravity and there are different ways of holding the javelin between two fingers. To gain speed the athlete runs up, carrying the javelin loosely above the head at first and then moving it back. The last three steps before releasing the javelin are the most important ones to build up power.

The best decathletes like Nicklas Wiberg can throw over 70 m (gaining around 900 points; 15 points for 1 m).

Some of the best decathletes in this event with their PBs:

• Nicklas Wiberg (SWE) - 74,41 m
• Leonel Suárez (CUB) - 73,98 m
• Tomas Dvorak (CZE) - 72,32 m
• Bryan Clay (USA) - 72,00 m
• Roman Sebrle (CZE) - 71,18 m

To compare the current world record for this event is 98,48 m, held by Jan Zelezný.