javelin throw

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Shiying Liu of Team China, wearing a red striped uniform, prepares to throw a javelin during the Women's Javelin Throw final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Diagram showing javelin dimensions for women and men on the left, a labeled javelin-throwing area with runway and arc in the center, and the full javelin-throwing sector layout on the right.

Neeraj Chopra of India prepares to throw a javelin during the men's javelin event at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, with Olympic rings visible in the background.

Ruth Fuchs of East Germany in mid-throw during the javelin event at the 1978 European Championships, wearing athletic gear and number 147 on her chest.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee in a red and white USA uniform throws a javelin during the heptathlon at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, wearing bib number 578.

Daley Thompson of Great Britain in mid-stride throwing a javelin during the decathlon at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, with a crowd watching in the stadium.

Galina Zybina, wearing a USSR sweatshirt and shorts, prepares to throw a javelin during a practice session outdoors at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Otaniemi, Finland.

Infographic about the ancient Olympic Games featuring stylized illustrations of athletes competing in discus, long jump, javelin, equestrian events, running events, boxing, wrestling, and pankration. Each sport is labeled with a brief description, and a central text box explains the origins and evolution of the Games in Olympia, Greece.

See a comparative study of four Olympic hurling objects - the hammer, the javelin, the discus, and the shot put

Study a side-view demonstration of a track-and-field athlete throwing a javelin

javelin throw: References & Edit History

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Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Invalidated site: International Journal of Physiology, Nutrition and Physical Education - Kinematical Analysis of Javelin Throw (PDF).	Aakanksha Gaur	Aug 26, 2026
	Add new Web site: International Journal of Physiology, Nutrition and Physical Education - Kinematical Analysis of Javelin Throw (PDF).	Grace Young	May 23, 2025
	Add new Web site: FHSU Scholars Repository - Selected Segment: Dynamics in Javelin Throwing (PDF).	Grace Young	Mar 28, 2025
	Added art.	Rick Livingston	Aug 15, 2024
	Updated to note the size range of the spear. Media added.	Will Gosner	Jul 16, 2024
	Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Energy flow in men�s javelin throw and its relationship to joint load and performance.	Gloria Lotha	Jun 24, 2024
	Add new Web site: World Athletics - Javelin Throw.	Gloria Lotha	Dec 07, 2023
	Add new Web site: International Olympic Committee - Javelin throw: Know the rules, scoring system and competition format.	Aakanksha Gaur	May 08, 2023
	Corrected display issue.	Adam Augustyn	Aug 09, 2021
	Add new Web site: World Athletics - Javelin Throw.	Surabhi Sinha	Aug 07, 2014
	Add new Web site: h2g2 - Javelin.	Swati Chopra	Mar 15, 2012
	Add new Web site: IndiaNetzone - Javelin Throw.	Swati Chopra	Mar 15, 2012
	Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Javelin Throwing Technique.	Swati Chopra	Mar 15, 2012
	Media added.	Adam Augustyn	Jul 28, 2008
	Article revised.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Apr 07, 2005
	Article revised.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Mar 12, 2004
	Article added to new online database.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	May 04, 1999