Javelin throw: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox athletics event

|event= Javelin throw

|WRmen= {{flagicon|CZ}} [[Jan Železný]] {{T&FcalcR|98.48}} (1996)

|ORmen= {{nowrap|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Arshad Nadeem]] {{T&FcalcR|92.97}} (2024)}}

|ORwomen= {{nowrap|{{flagicon|CUB}} [[Osleidys Menéndez]] {{T&FcalcR|71.53}} (2004)}}

|CRwomen= {{nowrap|{{flagicon|CUB}} [[Osleidys Menéndez]] {{T&FcalcR|71.70}} (2005)}}

The '''javelin throw''' is a [[track and field]] event where the [[javelin]], a [[spear]] about {{convert|2.5|m|abbr=on}} in length, is thrown as far as possible. The javelin thrower gains [[momentum]] by running within a predetermined area. Javelin throwing is an event of both the men's [[decathlon]] and the women's [[heptathlon]].

 

==History==

{{See also|History of physical training and fitness}}

The javelin throw was added to the [[Ancient Olympic Games]] as part of the [[pentathlon]] in 708&nbsp;BC.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 11, 2022 |title=From weapon of war to Olympic sport: A glance at javelin throw's history |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/javelin-throw-history |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=Olympics.com}}</ref> 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 (''[[Amentum|ankyle]]'' in Greek) that was wound around the middle of the shaft. Athletes held the javelin by the ''ankyle'', a leather strap around the shaft, so when they released the javelin, the unwinding of the thong gave the javelin a spiral trajectory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greek Javelin |url=https://healthandfitnesshistory.com/ancient-fitness-tools/greek-javelin/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Health and Fitness History |language=en-US}}</ref>

 

|archive-date=29 June 2011 }}

</ref>

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.<ref name="synty" /> At the Olympics, a both-hands contest was held only once, in [[Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics – Men's two handed javelin throw|1912]]; Finland swept the medals, ahead of Lemming.<ref name="jukola"/>{{rp|441}} After that, this version of the javelin rapidly faded into obscurity, together with similar variations of the shot and the discus; Sweden's [[Yngve Häckner]], with his total of 114.28&nbsp;m from 1917, was the last official both-hands world record holder.<ref name="cat">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402182341/http://www.fcatletisme.cat/Ctecnic/documentacio/modelstecnics/12_JAVELINA_2011.pdf |archive-date= 2 April 2015 |url=http://www.fcatletisme.cat/Ctecnic/documentacio/modelstecnics/12_JAVELINA_2011.pdf |title=Part III: Llançaments – Tema 12 Javelina |author=Vélez Blasco, Miguel |language=ca |publisher=Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya / Federació Catalana d'Atletisme |url-status=dead }}</ref>

 

Instead of being confined to a circle, javelin throwers have a runway {{convert|4|m|abbr=on}} wide and at least {{convert|30|m|abbr=on}} in length, ending in an {{cvt|8|m}} radius ''throwing arc'' from 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.

 

 

Competition rules are similar to other throwing events: a ''round'' consists 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 a ''cut'' whereby 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).

 

===Javelin redesigns===

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-0513-018, Uwe Hohn.jpg|thumb|[[Uwe Hohn]] (pictured in 1984) holds the "eternal world record" with a throw of 104.80&nbsp;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 ({{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 metres, 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>

 

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 Räty]] had achieved a world record of {{convert|96.96|m|abbr=on}} in 1991 with such a design, but this record was nullified.

 

===Weight rules by age group===

==Culture==

[[File:A mens and womens javelin.png|thumb|right|60px|A women's (600-g, left) and men's (800-g, right) javelin.]]

 

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.

 

==All-time top 25 (current models)==

 

===Men===

| {{PAK}}

|8 August 2024

|<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=8 August 2024 |title=Olympics 2024 - Men's Javelin Throw Final Results |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/results/athletics/men-s-javelin-throw/fnl-000100--}}</ref>

|-

|6 July 2017

|[[Lausanne]]

|- bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|align=center|11

|7 June 2018

|[[Oslo]]

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| rowspan="2" align="center" |19

|8 September 2023

|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Brussels]]

|- bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|align=center|22

|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Jakub Vadlejch]]|CZE}}

|[[Turku]]

|}

{{col-2}}

|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Haruka Kitaguchi]]|JPN}}

|[[Brussels]]

|}

[[File:Mariya Abakumova Daegu 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Maria Abakumova at the 2011 World Athletics Championships]]