Javelin throw: Difference between revisions

[[File:Javelin throwers Ancient Greece.png|thumb|A scene depicting javelin throwers and other [[Pentathlete|pentathletes]]. Originally found on a [[Panathenaic amphora]] from [[Ancient Greece]], circa 525 B.C. British Museum.]]

Sweden's [[Eric Lemming]], who threw his first world best (49.32 metersmetres) in 1899 and ruled the event from 1902 to 1912, was the first dominant javelin thrower.<ref name="jukola"/>{{rp|436,441}}<ref name="synty">{{cite book |title=Urheilulajien synty |author1=Kanerva, Juha |author2=Tikander, Vesa |isbn=9789518513455 |publisher=Teos |language=fi}}</ref>{{rp|478}} When the men's javelin was introduced as an Olympic discipline at the [[Athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games|1906 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.<ref name="jukola"/>{{rp|437}} Though challenged by younger talents, Lemming repeated as Olympic champion in 1908 and 1912; his eventual best mark (62.32&nbsp;m, thrown after the 1912 Olympics) was the first javelin world record to be officially ratified by the [[International Association of Athletics Federations]].<ref name="jukola"/>{{rp|436–441}}<ref name=iaaf>

Another early variant was the freestyle javelin, in which holding the javelin by the grip at the center of gravity was not mandatory; such a [[Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle javelin throw|freestyle competition]] was held at the 1908 Olympics, but it was dropped from the program after that.<ref name="synty"/>{{rp|478}} Hungary's [[Mór Kóczán]] used a freestyle end grip to break the 60-metermetre barrier in 1911, a year before Lemming and [[Julius Saaristo]] first did so with a regular grip.<ref name="jukola"/>{{rp|440}}<ref name="wrp">{{cite web |url=http://iaaf-ebooks.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/Progression-of-IAAF-World-Records-2015/projet/IAAF-WRPB-2015.pdf |title=IAAF World Records Progression |edition=2015 |author1=Hymans, Richard |author2=Matrahazi, Imre |publisher=[[International Association of Athletics Federations]] |access-date=20 October 2015}}</ref>{{rp|214}}

Unlike the other throwing events ([[shot put]], [[discus]], and [[Hammer throw|hammer]]), 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 a [[discus 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 Saarikoski (athlete)|Pentti Saarikoski]] threw {{T&Fcalc|99.52}}<ref>Pentti Saarikosk</ref> 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.

The javelin is thrown towards a 28.96º [[circular sector]] that 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pntf.org/officials/ivars/Throwing_Event_Sector_Angles_Rev_F1.pdf |title=Laying Out Sector Angles for the Track and Field Throwing Events |author=<!--Not stated--> |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=USA Track & Field Pacific Northwest}}</ref> 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 of the javelin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Javelin Throw|url=https://www.worldathletics.org/disciplines/throws/javelin-throw|access-date=2021-01-22|website=worldathletics.org|language=en}}</ref> 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 centimetercentimetre.

On 1 April 1986, the men's javelin ({{convert|800|g|lbs|sigfig=3|lk=on}}) was redesigned by the governing body (the [[IAAF]] Technical 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, {{convert|104.80|m|abbr=on}} by [[Uwe Hohn]]. With throws exceeding 100 metersmetres, it was becoming difficult to safely stage the competition within the confines of a stadium infield. The javelin was redesigned so that the [[centre of gravity]] was moved {{convert|4|cm|abbr=on}} 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 the [[relative 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 ({{convert|600|g|lbs|sigfig=3}}) was similarly redesigned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofjavelin.com/posts/physics-javelin-designs-whats-the-significance/|title=Physics: Javelin Designs, what's the significance? – World of Javelin|work=worldofjavelin.com|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402160908/http://www.worldofjavelin.com/posts/physics-javelin-designs-whats-the-significance/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsrec.com/281327-describe-sequence-arm-muscle-movements-throwing-javelin.html|title=Describe the Sequence of Arm Muscle Movements in Throwing a Javelin|date=February 21, 2019|author=Luann Voza|website=SportsRec|language=en|access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> 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".<ref name=":0" /> 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".<ref name=":0" /> 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".<ref name=":0" />

In 1994, [[Michael Torke]] composed ''[[Javelin (Torke)|Javelin]]'', [[commission (art)|commissioned]] by the [[Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games]] in celebration of the [[Atlanta Symphony Orchestra]]'s 50th anniversary season, in conjunction with the [[1996 Summer Olympics]].

Javelin throwers have been selected as a main motif in numerous collectors' coins. One of the recent samples is the €5 Finnish [[Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Finland)#2005 coinage|10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics commemorative coin]], minted in 2005 to commemorate the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]]. On the obverse of the coin, a javelin thrower is depicted. On the reverse, legs of hurdle runners with the [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] tower in the background can be seen.

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|[[Paris|Paris]]

| rowspan=54| || align=center|22 || {{T&FcalcR|92.42}} || ''Železný #7'' || rowspan=54| || 28 May 1997 || [[Ostrava]] ||

|<ref>{{cite web|title=Javelin Throw Results|url=http://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2017/lausanne/re1880040.pdf|work=sportresult.com|date=6 July 2017|access-date=9 July 2017}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

|<ref>{{cite web|title=Javelin Throw Results|url=http://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2018/oslo/re1880040.pdf|work=sportresult.com|date=7 June 2018|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-date=4 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704020511/http://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2018/oslo/re1880040.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

|<ref>{{cite web|title=Javelin Throw Result|url=https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/BRUSSELS2023/PDF_ATHWJAVELIN-DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73I2.PDF?h=TksNEp9dMrAWABq1jOJkd8hRAig=|work=sportresult.com|date=8 September 2023|access-date=8 September 2023}}{{dead link|date=August 2024}}</ref>