Hammer throw
The hammer throw is one of the four throwing events in regular track and field competitions, along with the discus throw, shot put and javelin.
History
With roots dating back to the 15th century, the contemporary version of the hammer throw is one of the oldest of Olympic Games competitions, first included at the 1900 games in Paris, France (the second Olympiad of the modern era). Its history since the late 1960s and legacy prior to inclusion in the Olympics have been dominated by European and Eastern European influence, which has had an impact on interest in the event in other parts of the world.
The hammer evolved from its early informal origins to become part of the Scottish Highland games in the late 18th century, where the original version of the event is still contested today. It is believed that, like many Highland games events, the origin of the hammer throw is tied to a prohibition by King Edward I of England against Scotsmen possessing weapons during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
In the absence of weapons of war, the Scots turned to alternative methods of military training. The Highland Games became a more formalized event after the Highland Clearances of the late 18th century, which were an agricultural revolution that involved forced displacement of commoners in the Scottish Highlands by the aristocracy.
While the men's hammer throw has been part of the Olympics since 1900, the International Association of Athletics Federations did not start ratifying women's marks until 1995. Women's hammer throw was first included in the Olympics at the 2000 summer games in Sydney, Australia, after having been included in the World Championships a year earlier.
Competition
The men's hammer weighs 16 pounds (7.257 kg) and measures 3 feet 11 3⁄4 inches (121.5 cm) in length and the women's hammer weighs 8.82 lb (4 kg) and 3 feet 11 inches (119.5 cm) in length.[1] Like the other throwing events, the competition is decided by who can throw the implement the farthest.
Although commonly thought of as a strength event, technical advancements in the last 30 years have evolved hammer throw competition to a point where more focus is on speed in order to gain maximum distance.
The throwing motion involves two swings from stationary position, then three or four rotations of the body in circular motion using a complicated heel-toe movement of the foot. The ball moves in a circular path, gradually increasing in velocity with each turn with the high point of the ball toward the sector and the low point at the back of the circle. The thrower releases the ball from the front of the circle.
As of 2014[update] the men's hammer world record is held by Yuriy Sedykh, who threw 86.74 m (284 ft 6+3⁄4 in) at the 1986 European Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, West Germany on 30 August.
As of 2014[update] the world record for the women's hammer is held by Anita Włodarczyk, who threw 79.58 m (261 ft 1 in) in Berlin, Germany on 31 August 2014.
All-time top 10
Men
- Updated January 2014
| Rank | Mark | Athlete | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86.74 m (284 ft 6+3⁄4 in) |  Yuriy Sedykh (URS)
|
Stuttgart | 30 August 1986 |
| 2 | 86.73 m (284 ft 6+1⁄2 in) |  Ivan Tsikhan (BLR)
|
Brest | 3 July 2005 |
| 3 | 86.04 m (282 ft 3+1⁄4 in) | Sergey Litvinov (URS)
|
Dresden | 3 July 1986 |
| 4 | 84.90 m (278 ft 6+1⁄2 in) | Vadim Devyatovskiy (BLR)
|
Minsk | 21 July 2005 |
| 5 | 84.86 m (278 ft 4+3⁄4 in) |  Koji Murofushi (JPN)
|
Prague | 29 June 2003 |
| 6 | 84.62 m (277 ft 7+1⁄4 in) | Igor Astapkovich (BLR)
|
Seville | 6 June 1992 |
| 7 | 84.48 m (277 ft 1+3⁄4 in) | Igor Nikulin (URS)
|
Lausanne | 12 July 1990 |
| 8 | 84.40 m (276 ft 10+3⁄4 in) | Jüri Tamm (URS)
|
Banská Bystrica | 9 September 1984 |
| 9 | 84.19 m (276 ft 2+1⁄2 in) |  Adrián Annus (HUN)
|
Szombathely | 10 August 2003 |
| 10 | 83.68 m (274 ft 6+1⁄4 in) | Tibor Gécsek (HUN)
|
Zalaegerszeg | 19 September 1998 |
Women
- Updated September 2014
| Rank | Mark | Athlete | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 79.58 m (261 ft 1 in) |  Anita Włodarczyk (POL)
|
Berlin | 31 August 2014 |
| 2 | 79.42 m (260 ft 6+3⁄4 in) |  Betty Heidler (GER)
|
Halle | 21 May 2011 |
| 3 | 78.80 m (258 ft 6+1⁄4 in) |  Tatyana Lysenko (RUS)
|
Moscow | 16 August 2013 |
| 4 | 78.69 m (258 ft 2 in) | Aksana Miankova (BLR)
|
Minsk | 18 July 2012 |
| 5 | 77.68 m (254 ft 10+1⁄4 in) |  Zheng Wang (CHN)
|
Chengdu | 29 March 2014 |
| 6 | 77.33 m (253 ft 8+1⁄4 in) | Zhang Wenxiu (CHN)
|
Incheon | 28 Sept 2014 |
| 7 | 77.26 m (253 ft 5+1⁄2 in) | Gulfiya Khanafeyeva (RUS)
|
Tula | 12 June 2006 |
| 8 | 77.13 m (253 ft 1⁄2 in) | Oksana Kondrateva (RUS)
|
Zhukovskiy | 30 June 2013 |
| 9 | 76.99 m (252 ft 7 in) | Zhang Wenxiu (CHN)
|
Ostrava | 24 May 2012 |
| 10 | 76.90 m (252 ft 3+1⁄2 in) |  Martina Hrašnová (SVK)
|
Trnava | 16 May 2009 |
| 11 | 76.83 m (252 ft 3⁄4 in) | Kamila Skolimowska (POL)
|
Doha | 11 May 2007 |
Olympic medalists
Men
Women
World Championships medalists
Men
Women
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Seville |  Mihaela Melinte (ROU)
|
Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
 Lisa Misipeka (ASA)
|
| 2001 Edmonton |  Yipsi Moreno (CUB)
|
Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
 Bronwyn Eagles (AUS)
|
| 2003 Saint-Denis | Yipsi Moreno (CUB)
|
Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
 Manuela Montebrun (FRA)
|
| 2005 Helsinki | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Yipsi Moreno (CUB)
|
Tatyana Lysenko (RUS)
|
| 2007 Osaka | Betty Heidler (GER)
|
Yipsi Moreno (CUB)
|
Zhang Wenxiu (CHN)
|
| 2009 Berlin | Anita Włodarczyk (POL)
|
Betty Heidler (GER)
|
Martina Hrašnová (SVK)
|
| 2011 Daegu | Tatyana Lysenko (RUS)
|
Betty Heidler (GER)
|
Zhang Wenxiu (CHN)
|
| 2013 Moscow | Tatyana Lysenko (RUS)
|
Anita Wlodarczyk (POL)
|
Zhang Wenxiu (CHN)
|
Season's bests
Men
| Rank | Mark | Athlete | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 76.40 m (250 ft 7+3⁄4 in) | Walter Schmidt (FRG)
|
Lahr |
| 1972 | 75.88 m (248 ft 11+1⁄4 in) | Anatoliy Bondarchuk (URS)
|
Kiev |
| 1973 | 75.20 m (246 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | Anatoliy Bondarchuk (URS)
|
Moscow |
| 1974 | 76.66 m (251 ft 6 in) | Aleksey Spiridonov (URS)
|
Munich |
| 1975 | 79.30 m (260 ft 2 in) | Walter Schmidt (FRG)
|
Frankfurt |
| 1976 | 78.86 m (258 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | Yuriy Sedykh (URS)
|
Sochi |
| 1977 | 77.60 m (254 ft 7 in) | Karl-Hans Riehm (FRG)
|
Gelsenkirchen |
| 1978 | 80.32 m (263 ft 6 in) | Karl-Hans Riehm (FRG)
|
Heidenheim |
| 1979 | 79.82 m (261 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | Sergey Litvinov (URS)
|
Leipzig |
| 1980 | 81.80 m (268 ft 4+1⁄4 in) | Yuriy Sedykh (URS)
|
Moscow |
| 1981 | 80.56 m (264 ft 3+1⁄2 in) | Klaus Ploghaus (FRG)
|
Obersühl |
| 1982 | 83.98 m (275 ft 6+1⁄4 in) | Sergey Litvinov (URS)
|
Moscow |
| 1983 | 84.14 m (276 ft 1⁄2 in) | Sergey Litvinov (URS)
|
Moscow |
| 1984 | 86.34 m (283 ft 3 in) | Yuriy Sedykh (URS)
|
Cork |
| 1985 | 84.08 m (275 ft 10 in) | Jüri Tamm (URS)
|
Budapest |
| 1986 | 86.74 m (284 ft 6+3⁄4 in) | Yuriy Sedykh (URS)
|
Stuttgart |
| 1987 | 83.48 m (273 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | Sergey Litvinov (URS)
|
Karl-Marx-Stadt |
| 1988 | 85.14 m (279 ft 3+3⁄4 in) | Yuriy Sedykh (URS)
|
Moscow |
| 1989 | 82.84 m (271 ft 9+1⁄4 in) | Heinz Weis (FRG)
|
Berlin |
| 1990 | 84.48 m (277 ft 1+3⁄4 in) | Igor Nikulin (URS)
|
Lausanne |
| 1991 | 84.26 m (276 ft 5+1⁄4 in) |  Igor Astapkovich (BLR)
|
Reims |
| 1992 | 84.62 m (277 ft 7+1⁄4 in) | Igor Astapkovich (BLR)
|
Seville |
| 1993 | 82.78 m (271 ft 7 in) |  Andrey Abduvaliyev (UZB)
|
Nitra |
| 1994 | 83.36 m (273 ft 5+3⁄4 in) | Andrey Abduvaliyev (UZB)
|
Budapest |
| 1995 | 83.10 m (272 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | Andrey Abduvaliyev (UZB)
|
Tashkent |
| 1996 | 82.52 m (270 ft 8+3⁄4 in) |  Lance Deal (USA)
|
Milan |
| 1997 | 83.04 m (272 ft 5+1⁄4 in) | Heinz Weis (GER)
|
Frankfurt |
| 1998 | 83.68 m (274 ft 6+1⁄4 in) | Tibor Gécsek (HUN)
|
Zalaegerszeg |
| 1999 | 82.78 m (271 ft 7 in) | Karsten Kobs (GER)
|
Dortmund |
| 2000 | 82.58 m (270 ft 11 in) | Igor Astapkovich (BLR)
|
Stayki |
| 2001 | 83.47 m (273 ft 10 in) | Koji Murofushi (JPN)
|
Toyota |
| 2002 | 83.43 m (273 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | Aleksey Zagornyi (RUS)
|
Adler |
| 2003 | 84.86 m (278 ft 4+3⁄4 in) | Koji Murofushi (JPN)
|
Prague |
| 2004 | 84.46 m (277 ft 1 in) | Ivan Tsikhan (BLR)
|
Minsk |
| 2005 | 86.73 m (284 ft 6+1⁄2 in) | Ivan Tsikhan (BLR)
|
Brest |
| 2006 | 82.95 m (272 ft 1+1⁄2 in) | Vadim Devyatovskiy (BLR)
|
Stayki |
| 2007 | 83.63 m (274 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | Ivan Tsikhan (BLR)
|
Osaka |
| 2008 | 84.51 m (277 ft 3 in) | Ivan Tsikhan (BLR)
|
Grodno |
| 2009 | 82.58 m (270 ft 11 in) |  Primož Kozmus (SLO)
|
Celje |
| 2010 | 80.99 m (265 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | Koji Murofushi (JPN)
|
Rieti |
| 2011 | 81.89 m (268 ft 8 in) | Krisztián Pars (HUN)
|
Szombathely |
| 2012 | 82.81 m (271 ft 8 in) | Ivan Tsikhan (BLR)
|
Brest |
| 2013 | 82.40 m (270 ft 4 in) | Krisztián Pars (HUN)
|
Dubnica |
| 2014 | 83.48 m (273 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | Pawel Fajdek (POL)
|
Warsaw |
Women
| Rank | Mark | Athlete | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 58.94 m (193 ft 4+1⁄4 in) | Carol Cady (USA)
|
Los Gatos |
| 1989 | 61.50 m (201 ft 9+1⁄4 in) | Yelena Pichugina (URS)
|
Frunze |
| 1990 | 61.96 m (203 ft 3+1⁄4 in) | Larisa Baranova (URS)
|
Adler |
| 1991 | 64.44 m (211 ft 5 in) | Alla Davydova (URS)
|
Adler |
| 1992 | 65.40 m (214 ft 6+3⁄4 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Bryansk |
| 1993 | 64.64 m (212 ft 3⁄4 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Krasnodar |
| 1994 | 67.34 m (220 ft 11 in) | Svetlana Sudak (BLR)
|
Minsk |
| 1995 | 68.16 m (223 ft 7+1⁄4 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Moscow |
| 1996 | 69.46 m (227 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Sydney |
| 1997 | 73.10 m (239 ft 9+3⁄4 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Munich |
| 1998 | 73.80 m (242 ft 1+1⁄2 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Tolyatti |
| 1999 | 76.07 m (249 ft 6+3⁄4 in) | Mihaela Melinte (ROM)
|
Rüdlingen |
| 2000 | 75.68 m (248 ft 3+1⁄2 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Tula |
| 2001 | 73.62 m (241 ft 6+1⁄4 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Adler |
| 2002 | 73.07 m (239 ft 8+3⁄4 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS)
|
Annecy |
| 2003 | 75.14 m (246 ft 6+1⁄4 in) | Yipsi Moreno (CUB)
|
Savona |
| 2004 | 75.18 m (246 ft 7+3⁄4 in) | Yipsi Moreno (CUB)
|
Havana |
| 2005 | 77.06 m (252 ft 9+3⁄4 in) | Tatyana Lysenko (RUS)
|
Moscow |
| 2006 | 77.80 m (255 ft 2+3⁄4 in) | Tatyana Lysenko (RUS)
|
Tallinn |
| 2007 | 77.30 m (253 ft 7+1⁄4 in) | Tatyana Lysenko (RUS)
|
Adler |
| 2008 | 77.32 m (253 ft 8 in) | Aksana Miankova (BLR)
|
Minsk |
| 2009 | 77.96 m (255 ft 9+1⁄4 in) | Anita Włodarczyk (POL)
|
Berlin |
| 2010 | 78.30 m (256 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | Anita Włodarczyk (POL)
|
Bydgoszcz |
| 2011 | 79.42 m (260 ft 6+3⁄4 in) | Betty Heidler (GER)
|
Halle |
| 2012 | 78.69 m (258 ft 2 in) | Aksana Miankova (BLR)
|
Minsk |
| 2013 | 78.80 m (258 ft 6+1⁄4 in) | Tatyana Lysenko (RUS)
|
Moscow |
| 2014 | 79.580 m (261 ft 1 in) | Anita Włodarczyk (POL)
|
Berlin |
References
- ^ "Hammer Throw - Introduction". IAAF. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ^ a b 2004 Olympic Hammer Throw Medalists. Olympics.com. Retrieved on 2024-04-13.
- ^ a b Engeler, Elaine (10 June 2010). "CAS Reinstates Medals for Hammer Throwers". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
External links
- HammerThrow.eu (Results, Top-Lists, Records, Videos, ...)
- HammerThrow.org (Information about the event, coaching tips and resources, ...)
- Statistics
- Hammer Throw Records
- Hammer Throw History
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