Sportsfolio

History & origins

The story of Javelin Throw

Javelin was a military skill before it was a sport, and it entered the ancient Olympics as part of the pentathlon. The modern event was revived through Scandinavian athletics clubs, dominated for decades by Finland, and has twice had its records wiped out by deliberate redesigns of the implement.

Milestones

10 moments that shaped the modern game.

  1. 708 BCE

    Part of the ancient pentathlon

    Greek athletes threw a javelin using a leather thong wrapped around the shaft, which imparted spin and added considerable distance.

  2. 1780s

    Revival in Scandinavia

    Gymnastics and athletics movements in Sweden, Norway and Finland revived competitive throwing, and the Nordic countries would dominate the event for the next century.

  3. 1908

    Olympic debut

    The men's javelin entered the London Games, won by Sweden's Eric Lemming, and Finland and Sweden took most medals for decades afterwards.

  4. 1932

    Women compete

    The women's javelin was added at Los Angeles, won by Babe Didrikson — who also won the 80 m hurdles and took silver in the high jump at the same Games.

  5. 1953

    The Spanish style is banned

    Félix Erausquin threw over 100 m using a discus-like spinning technique with a rope grip. It was ruled unsafe and outlawed within a year, and the rule against turning your back dates from this episode.

  6. 1984

    Uwe Hohn throws 104.80 m

    The only throw ever past 100 m nearly cleared the infield entirely. It remains the 'eternal record', because the implement was redesigned before anyone could approach it.

  7. 1986

    The men's javelin is redesigned

    The centre of gravity was moved forward to shorten flight and force nose-first landings. All existing records were annulled and the event effectively restarted.

  8. 1999

    The women's javelin follows

    The women's implement was redesigned for the same reasons, and the women's records were reset in turn.

  9. 1996

    Jan Železný's world record

    The Czech thrower set the current men's record of 98.48 m, a mark that has now stood for nearly three decades.

  10. 2021

    Neeraj Chopra wins Olympic gold

    India won its first Olympic gold medal in athletics in Tokyo, and javelin participation across the country rose sharply in the following years.