The Javelin Throw
Original Editor - Matt Huey
Top Contributors - Matt Huey and Kim Jackson
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The throwing of spears has been apart of many cultures, where participants threw sticks for distance. Some of the earliest records of the javelin were in the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece in 708BC. It was added into the modern Olympics for men in 1908 and in 1932 for women.
The javelin is a stand along event and is also an event in the men's decathlon and women's heptathlon.
The javelin[edit | edit source]
For international competitions, the men's javelin is between 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) and 2.7 m (8 ft 10in) and weighing 800 grams (28oz). The women's javelin is between 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) and 2.3 m (7 ft 7in) and 600 grams (21oz). There is a grip, made of cord, at the center of gravity for the javelin.
Competitors have a runway that is 4 m (13 ft) wide and at minimal 30 m (98ft) long. At the end, there is a throwing arc that is 8 m (26 ft). The sector is a 28.96 degrees circle from the center of the throwing arc. The competitors can start anywhere on the runway, then run up to make their throw into the sector.
Rules[edit | edit source]
Technique[edit | edit source]
- bulleted list
- x
or
- numbered list
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Records[edit | edit source]
Due to changes in the rules, there exists three separate time periods for the javelin throw. This is due to redesigns in the javelin. The first change was in 1984, where the center of mass was moved forward by 4cm. This caused the javelin to tip down earlier and steeper. Prior to 1984, competitors were throwing further and further and were at risk of throwing beyond the space inside stadiums. The next rule change came from serrated tails being outlawed in 1991.
