The javelin throw is a track and field event where the javelin, a spear about 2.5 m in
length, is thrown. 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 During the era between the Mycenaean times
and the Roman Empire, the javelin was a commonly used offensive weapon. Being lighter than
the spear, the javelin would be thrown rather than thrust and thus allowed long distance
attacks against one’s enemy. Athletes, however, used javelins that were much lighter than
military ones because the idea of the event was to demonstrate distance rather than penetration.
The one major difference between the javelin of the ancient games and the javelin of more
modern times is a leather thong, called an ankyle that was wound around the middle of
the shaft. Athletes would hold the javelin by the thong and when the javelin was released
this thong unwound giving the javelin a spiraled flight.
The javelin throw has a particularly strong tradition in the Nordic nations of Europe.
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 ever swept the medals
at a currently recognized official Olympics, and has done so twice, in 1920 and 1932. In
1912 Finland also swept the medals in the only appearance in the Olympics of two-handed
javelin, an event in which the implement was separately thrown with both the right hand
and the left hand and the marks were added together. Quite popular in Finland and Sweden
at the time, this event soon faded into obscurity, together with similar variations of the shot
and the discus; Sweden's Yngve Häckner, with his total of 114.28 m from 1917, was the
last official world record holder. Rules and competitions
The size, shape, minimum weight, and center of gravity of the javelin are all defined
by IAAF rules. In international competition, men throw a javelin between 2.6 and 2.7 m
in length and 800 g in weight, and women throw a javelin between 2.2 and 2.3 m in
length and 600 g in weight. The javelin has a grip, about 150 mm wide, made of cord and
located at the javelin's center of gravity from the javelin tip for the men's javelin
and 0.8 to 0.92 m from the javelin tip for the women's javelin).
Unlike the other throwing events, the technique used to throw the javelin is dictated by IAAF
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 such that his back faces the direction of
throw. In practice, this prevents athletes from attempting to spin and hurl the javelin
sidearm in the style of a discus throw. Instead of being confined to a circle, javelin throwers
have a runway 4 m wide and at least 30 m in length, ending in a curved arc from which
their throw will be 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 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 "sector" covering an angle of 28.96 degrees extending outwards
from the arc at the end of the runway. A throw is legal only if the tip of the javelin lands
within this sector, and the tip strikes the ground before any other part of the javelin.
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: 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 is the winner; in the case of a tie
the competitors' second-longest throws are also considered. Competitions involving large
numbers of athletes sometimes use a "cut": all competitors compete in the first three
rounds, but only athletes 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. Javelin redesigns
On 1 April 1986, the men's javelin) was redesigned by the governing body. They decided to change
the rules for javelin construction 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 by Uwe Hohn. With throws exceeding 100 meters, it was becoming difficult
to stage the competition - safely - within the confines of a stadium infield. The javelin
was redesigned so that the centre of gravity was moved 4 cm forward, while the surface
areas in front of and behind the centre of gravity were reduced and increased, respectively.
This had the effect of reducing lift and increasing the downward pitching moment. This brings
the nose down earlier, 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) was similarly
redesigned. Modifications that manufacturers made to recover
some of the lost distance, by increasing tail drag, were forbidden at the end of 1991 and
marks made using implements with such modifications removed from the record books. Seppo Räty
had achieved a world record of 96.96 m in 1991 with such a design, but this record was
nullified. Technique and training
Unlike other throwing events, javelin allows the competitor to build speed over a considerable
distance. In addition to the core and upper body strength 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. US High School
Due to the fear of liability, the javelin throw is not an event in NFHS high school
competition in 36 states, though USATF youth competitions for the same aged athletes do
hold javelin competitions. At various points in time, high schools have attempted to create
substitute events, including the softball throw, football throw and the grenade throw,
throwing different objects under rules similar to javelin throw rules.
Culture
Javelin throwers have been selected as a main motif in numerous collectors' coins. One of
the recent samples is the €5 Finnish 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 ten
Men (Updated June 2012)
Women (Updated September 2014)
Olympic medalists Men
Women Season's bests
Men A new model was introduced in 1986, and all
records started fresh. Women
A new model was introduced in 1999 and all records started fresh.
See also List of javelin throw national champions
List of javelin throwers References
External links (IAAF Statement) – statement of reasons
to modify the javelin design Masters World Rankings
IAAF competition rules