Javelin throw at the Olympics

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Javelin throw
at the Olympic Games
Matti Järvinen.jpg
The 1932 javelin throw competition
Overview
Sport Athletics
Gender Men and women
Years held Men: 19082012
Women: 19322012
Olympic record
Men 90.57 m Andreas Thorkildsen (2008)
Women 71.53 m Osleidys Menéndez (2004)
Reigning champion
Men  Keshorn Walcott (TRI)
Women  Barbora Špotáková (CZE)

The javelin throw at the Summer Olympics is one of four track and field throwing events held at the multi-sport event. The men's javelin throw has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1908, being the last of the current throwing events to feature at the Olympics after the shot put, discus throw and hammer throw. The women's event was first contested at the 1932 Olympics, becoming the second women's throws event after the discus in 1928.

[1][2]

Two variants of the javelin have featured on the Olympic programme: a freestyle version was first contested at the 1906 Intercalated Games and then again the 1908 London Olympics. A one-off two-handed version was held at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.

Medalists

Men

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1908 London
details
 Eric Lemming (SWE)  Arne Halse (NOR)  Otto Nilsson (SWE)
1912 Stockholm
details
 Eric Lemming (SWE)  Julius Saaristo (FIN)  Mór Kóczán (HUN)
1920 Antwerp
details
 Jonni Myyrä (FIN)  Urho Peltonen (FIN)  Pekka Johansson (FIN)
1924 Paris
details
 Jonni Myyrä (FIN)  Gunnar Lindström (SWE)  Eugene Oberst (USA)
1928 Amsterdam
details
 Erik Lundqvist (SWE)  Béla Szepes (HUN)  Olav Sunde (NOR)
1932 Los Angeles
details
 Matti Järvinen (FIN)  Matti Sippala (FIN)  Eino Penttilä (FIN)
1936 Berlin
details
 Gerhard Stöck (GER)  Yrjö Nikkanen (FIN)  Kalervo Toivonen (FIN)
1948 London
details
 Tapio Rautavaara (FIN)  Steve Seymour (USA)  József Várszegi (HUN)
1952 Helsinki
details
 Cy Young (USA)  Bill Miller (USA)  Toivo Hyytiäinen (FIN)
1956 Melbourne
details
 Egil Danielsen (NOR)  Janusz Sidło (POL)  Viktor Tsybulenko (URS)
1960 Rome
details
 Viktor Tsybulenko (URS)  Walter Krüger (EUA)  Gergely Kulcsár (HUN)
1964 Tokyo
details
 Pauli Nevala (FIN)  Gergely Kulcsár (HUN)  Jānis Lūsis (URS)
1968 Mexico City
details
 Jānis Lūsis (URS)  Jorma Kinnunen (FIN)  Gergely Kulcsár (HUN)
1972 Munich
details
 Klaus Wolfermann (FRG)  Jānis Lūsis (URS)  Bill Schmidt (USA)
1976 Montreal
details
 Miklós Németh (HUN)  Hannu Siitonen (FIN)  Gheorghe Megelea (ROU)
1980 Moscow
details
 Dainis Kūla (URS)  Aleksandr Makarov (URS)  Wolfgang Hanisch (GDR)
1984 Los Angeles
details
 Arto Härkönen (FIN)  David Ottley (GBR)  Kenth Eldebrink (SWE)
1988 Seoul
details
 Tapio Korjus (FIN)  Jan Železný (TCH)  Seppo Räty (FIN)
1992 Barcelona
details
 Jan Železný (TCH)  Seppo Räty (FIN)  Steve Backley (GBR)
1996 Atlanta
details
 Jan Železný (CZE)  Steve Backley (GBR)  Seppo Räty (FIN)
2000 Sydney
details
 Jan Železný (CZE)  Steve Backley (GBR)  Sergey Makarov (RUS)
2004 Athens
details
 Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR)  Vadims Vasiļevskis (LAT)  Sergey Makarov (RUS)
2008 Beijing
details
 Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR)  Ainārs Kovals (LAT)  Tero Pitkämäki (FIN)
2012 London
details
 Keshorn Walcott (TRI)  Oleksandr Pyatnytsya (UKR)  Antti Ruuskanen (FIN)

Multiple medalists

Rank Athlete Nation Olympics Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Jan Železný  Czech Republic (CZE) 1988–2000 3 1 0 4
2= Eric Lemming  Sweden (SWE) 1908–1912 2 0 0 2
2= Jonni Myyrä  Finland (FIN) 1920–1924 2 0 0 2
2= Andreas Thorkildsen  Norway (NOR) 2004–2008 2 0 0 2
5 Jānis Lūsis  Soviet Union (URS) 1964–1972 1 1 1 3
6 Viktor Tsybulenko  Soviet Union (URS) 1956–1960 1 0 1 2
7 Steve Backley  Great Britain (GBR) 1992–2000 0 2 1 3
8= Gergely Kulcsár  Hungary (HUN) 1960–1968 0 1 2 3
8= Seppo Räty  Finland (FIN) 1988–1996 0 1 2 3
10 Sergey Makarov  Russia (RUS) 2000–2004 0 0 2 2

Medalists by country

Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  Finland (FIN) 7 7 8 22
2  Soviet Union (URS) 3 2 2 7
3  Sweden (SWE) 3 1 2 6
4  Norway (NOR) 3 1 1 5
5  Czech Republic (CZE) 2 0 0 2
6  Hungary (HUN) 1 2 4 7
7  United States (USA) 1 2 2 5
8=  Germany (GER)[nb] 1 1 0 2
8=  Czechoslovakia (TCH) 1 1 0 2
10=  West Germany (FRG) 1 0 0 1
10=  Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) 1 0 0 1
12  Great Britain (GBR) 0 3 1 4
13  Latvia (LAT) 0 2 0 2
14  Poland (POL) 0 1 0 1
15  Russia (RUS) 0 0 2 2
16=  Ukraine (UKR) 0 0 1 1
16=  East Germany (GDR) 0 0 1 1
16=  Romania (ROU) 0 0 1 1

Women

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1932 Los Angeles
details
 Babe Didrikson (USA)  Ellen Braumüller (GER)  Tilly Fleischer (GER)
1936 Berlin
details
 Tilly Fleischer (GER)  Luise Krüger (GER)  Maria Kwaśniewska (POL)
1948 London
details
 Herma Bauma (AUT)  Kaisa Parviainen (FIN)  Lily Carlstedt (DEN)
1952 Helsinki
details
 Dana Zátopková (TCH) 22x20px Aleksandra Chudina (URS) 22x20px Yelena Gorchakova (URS)
1956 Melbourne
details
 Inese Jaunzeme (URS)  Marlene Ahrens (CHI)  Nadezhda Konyayeva (URS)
1960 Rome
details
 Elvīra Ozoliņa (URS)  Dana Zátopková (TCH)  Birutė Kalėdienė (URS)
1964 Tokyo
details
 Mihaela Peneş (ROU)  Márta Rudas (HUN)  Yelena Gorchakova (URS)
1968 Mexico City
details
 Angéla Németh (HUN)  Mihaela Peneş (ROU)  Eva Janko (AUT)
1972 Munich
details
 Ruth Fuchs (GDR)  Jacqueline Todten (GDR)  Kate Schmidt (USA)
1976 Montreal
details
 Ruth Fuchs (GDR)  Marion Becker (FRG)  Kate Schmidt (USA)
1980 Moscow
details
 María Caridad Colón (CUB)  Saida Gunba (URS)  Ute Hommola (GDR)
1984 Los Angeles
details
 Tessa Sanderson (GBR)  Tiina Lillak (FIN)  Fatima Whitbread (GBR)
1988 Seoul
details
 Petra Felke (GDR)  Fatima Whitbread (GBR)  Beate Koch (GDR)
1992 Barcelona
details
 Silke Renk (GER)  Natalya Shikolenko (EUN)  Karen Forkel (GER)
1996 Atlanta
details
 Heli Rantanen (FIN)  Louise McPaul (AUS)  Trine Hattestad (NOR)
2000 Sydney
details
 Trine Hattestad (NOR)  Mirela Maniani-Tzelili (GRE)  Osleidys Menéndez (CUB)
2004 Athens
details
 Osleidys Menéndez (CUB)  Steffi Nerius (GER)  Mirela Maniani (GRE)
2008 Beijing
details
 Barbora Špotáková (CZE)  Mariya Abakumova (RUS)  Christina Obergföll (GER)
2012 London
details
 Barbora Špotáková (CZE)  Christina Obergföll (GER)  Linda Stahl (GER)

Multiple medalists

Rank Athlete Nation Olympics Gold Silver Bronze Total
1= Ruth Fuchs  East Germany (GDR) 1972–1976 2 0 0 2
1= Barbora Špotáková  Czech Republic (CZE) 2008–2012 2 0 0 2
3= Dana Zátopková  Czechoslovakia (TCH) 1952–1960 1 1 0 2
3= Mihaela Peneş  Romania (ROU) 1964–1968 1 1 0 2
5= Tilly Fleischer  Germany (GER) 1932–1936 1 0 1 2
5= Trine Hattestad  Norway (NOR) 1996–2000 1 0 1 2
5= Osleidys Menéndez  Cuba (CUB) 2000–2004 1 0 1 2
8= Fatima Whitbread  Great Britain (GBR) 1984–1988 0 1 1 2
8= Mirela Maniani  Greece (GRE) 2000–2004 0 1 1 2
8= Christina Obergföll  Germany (GER) 2008–2012 0 1 1 2
11= Yelena Gorchakova  Soviet Union (URS) 1952–1964 0 0 2 2
11= Kate Schmidt  United States (USA) 1972–1976 0 0 2 2

Medalists by country

Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  East Germany (GDR) 3 1 2 6
2  Germany (GER) 2 4 4 10
3  Soviet Union (URS) 2 2 4 8
4  Cuba (CUB) 2 0 1 3
5  Czech Republic (CZE) 2 0 0 2
6  Finland (FIN) 1 2 0 3
7  Great Britain (GBR) 1 1 1 3
8=  Czechoslovakia (TCH) 1 1 0 2
8=  Hungary (HUN) 1 1 0 2
8=  Romania (ROU) 1 1 0 2
11  United States (USA) 1 0 2 3
12=  Austria (AUT) 1 0 1 2
12=  Norway (NOR) 1 0 1 2
14  Greece (GRE) 0 1 1 2
15=  Australia (AUS) 0 1 0 1
15=  Chile (CHI) 0 1 0 1
15=  Russia (RUS) 0 1 0 1
15=  Unified Team (EUN) 0 1 0 1
15=  West Germany (FRG) 0 1 0 1
20=  Denmark (DEN) 0 0 1 1
20=  Poland (POL) 0 0 1 1

Intercalated Games

The 1906 Intercalated Games were held in Athens and at the time were officially recognised as part of the Olympic Games series, with the intention being to hold a games in Greece in two-year intervals between the internationally held Olympics. However, this plan never came to fruition and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later decided not to recognise these games as part of the official Olympic series. Some sports historians continue to treat the results of these games as part of the Olympic canon.[3]

A men's freestyle javelin event was contested at the 1906 Games – the first time the javelin featured on the Olympic programme. The competition was dominated by Swedish athletes, who took the first four places.[4] Eric Lemming was a comfortable winner by a margin of over eight metres and he would go on to win the first two Olympic titles proper in 1908 and 1912.[5] A 100 metres finalist, Knut Lindberg, was the silver medallist,[6] while the third placer, Bruno Söderström, also won a pole vault medal that year.[7]

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1906 Athens
details
22x20px Eric Lemming (SWE) 22x20px Knut Lindberg (SWE) 22x20px Bruno Söderström (SWE)

Variants

1908 freestyle javelin throw

Following the freestyle javelin contest at the 1906 Intercalated Games, the event was continued at the 1908 London Olympics in spite of the addition of the standard style javelin as well. Eric Lemming won his second freestyle title, and his first officially recognised Olympics gold, and also won the standard style event as well.[5] The freestyle event was dropped after 1908.[8]

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1908 London
details
 Eric Lemming (SWE)  Mikhail Dorizas (GRE)  Arne Halse (NOR)

Two-handed javelin throw

At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics a two-handed variant of the standard javelin throw competition took place. Each athlete had three attempts using each hand and their score was calculated by adding their best performances for the left and right hands. It featured two rounds, with the top three after the first round receiving a further three attempts with each arm.[9]

Finnish athletes completed a podium sweep as Julius Saaristo, the runner-up in the 1912 standard javelin event, took the gold medal. Eric Lemming, champion in the one-handed event, performed poorly with his left hand and finished in fourth place.[9]

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1912 Stockholm
details
 Julius Saaristo (FIN)  Väinö Siikaniemi (FIN)  Urho Peltonen (FIN)

References

Participation and athlete data
Olympic record progressions
Specific
  1. Olympic Medalists Men. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.
  2. Olympic Medalists Women. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.
  3. 1906 Athina Summer Games. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-26.
  4. Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's Javelin Throw, Freestyle. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Eric Lemming. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.
  6. Knut Lindberg. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.
  7. Bruno Söderström. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.
  8. Athletics Men's Javelin Throw, Freestyle Medalists. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Athletics at the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games: Men's Javelin Throw, Both Hands. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.

External links