Everything about Javelin Throwing for Dummies

Javelin throwing is an athletic discipline, the main goal of which is to throw an item – a javelin – for the longest possible distance. It is a variation of similar throwing disciplines and a kind of technical types of a track-and-field program. Throwers should have perfect power skills and coordination abilities. It became an Olympic kind of sport for men in 1908 and for women in 1932. In addition, javelin throwing is an obligatory part of multi-discipline events.

Rules and Peculiarities

General rules are similar to those that govern the other throwing disciplines. Every athlete is given three attempts; eight athletes with the best results qualify for the next round. These eight athletes are given three more attempts each; a final victory is awarded to an athlete according to the results of all six attempts. Apart from the other throwing variations, javelin throwers perform from a special track, rather than from a circle. This track is covered with the same material as that for runners, and the track is necessary for the athletes to take a run. It should be clear that attempts are said to be unsuccessful if an athlete crosses a line in the end of the track. In addition, it is a mistake when a javelin leaves a particular sector. Even if a javelin fails to stick into the ground, this attempts is considered successful, and the result is determined according to a landing place of the javelin tip.

Apart from balanced coordination and a final effort, athletes’ speed they gather at the beginning is also of key importance for covering long distances. It is supported by the fact that the best javelin throwers have been of various physical abilities. For example, some of them can weigh more than 110 kilos and be about 2 meters high, while others can weigh only 85 kilos with a height of only 185 cm.

Javelin Redesigns

In 1984, Uwe Horn threw the javelin for outstanding 104.80 meters. The most interesting was the fact that the javelin landed only 2 meters from the field edge. These long throws created a necessity to redesign the item; otherwise, this kind of sport would be prohibited to take place at stadiums at all because of possible hazards for athletes and spectators. As a result, a center of gravity was moved forward, which made javelins earlier go down. In general, it reduced an average throwing distance by 10%. In 1999, the same principles were applied to women’s javelins. In addition, however, women threw a 600-g item against 800-g javelins for men.

Manufacturers tried to increase air friction at a javelin back part with the help of particular holes, rough colors, and others. It was done to minimize the consequences of the displaced center of gravity and to recover the lost distance. These modifications were banned in 1991 after a Finnish athlete made his javelin of this kind overcome a distance of 96.96 meters. In addition to banning javelins of this type, the given record was also canceled.

History

Javelin throwing was used during hunting and wars. However, it was necessary to hit a particular target at those times. In addition, this discipline was a part of the ancient Olympic Games. With this, it is not clear whether it was distance throwing or hitting a particular target. It was not until 1908 when javelin throwing appeared at the modern Olympics. Nowadays, athletes compete only in distance throwing. The athletes use lighter items in comparison to those that had been in use in ancient times.