Hammer throw
The traditional Highland games version of event
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. The "hammer" used in this sport is not like any of the tools also called by that name. It consists of a metal ball attached by a steel wire to a grip. The size of the ball varies between men's and women's competitions (see Competition section below for details).
Contents
History[edit]
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 affected 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.
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[edit]
The men's hammer weighs 16 pounds (7.26 kg) and measures 3 feet 11 3⁄4 inches (121.3 cm) in length, and the women's hammer weighs 8.82 lb (4 kg) and 3 ft 11 in (119.4 cm) in length.[1] Like the other throwing events, the competition is decided by who can throw the implement the furthest.
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 about two swings from stationary position, then three, four or very rarely five 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 hammer ball toward the target sector and the low point at the back of the circle. The thrower releases the ball from the front of the circle.
As of 2015[update] the men's hammer world record is held by Yuriy Sedykh, who threw 86.74 m (284 ft 63⁄4 in) at the 1986 European Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, West Germany on 30 August.
The world record for the women's hammer is held by Anita Włodarczyk, who threw 82.98 m (272 ft 23⁄4 in) during the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial on 28 August 2016.
All-time top 25[edit]
Men[edit]
- Updated August 2015
| Rank | Mark | Athlete | Location | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86.74 m (284 ft 63⁄4 in) |  Yuriy Sedykh (SUN) |
Stuttgart | 30 August 1986 | |
| 2 | 86.04 m (282 ft 31⁄4 in) | Sergey Litvinov (SUN) |
Dresden | 3 July 1986 | |
| 3 | 84.90 m (278 ft 61⁄2 in) |  Vadim Devyatovskiy (BLR) |
Minsk | 21 July 2005 | |
| 4 | 84.86 m (278 ft 43⁄4 in) |  Koji Murofushi (JPN) |
Prague | 29 June 2003 | |
| 5 | 84.62 m (277 ft 71⁄4 in) |  Igor Astapkovich (BLR) |
Seville | 6 June 1992 | |
| 6 | 84.51 m (277 ft 3 in) | Ivan Tsikhan (BLR) |
Grodno | 9 July 2008 | |
| 7 | 84.48 m (277 ft 13⁄4 in) | Igor Nikulin (SUN) |
Lausanne | 12 July 1990 | |
| 8 | 84.40 m (276 ft 103⁄4 in) | Jüri Tamm (SUN) |
Banská Bystrica | 9 September 1984 | |
| 9 | 84.19 m (276 ft 21⁄2 in) |  Adrián Annus (HUN) |
Szombathely | 10 August 2003 | |
| 10 | 83.93 m (275 ft 41⁄4 in) |  Paweł Fajdek (POL) |
Szczecin | 9 August 2015 | [2] |
| 11 | 83.68 m (274 ft 61⁄4 in) | Tibor Gécsek (HUN) |
Zalaegerszeg | 19 September 1998 | |
| 12 | 83.46 m (273 ft 93⁄4 in) | Andrey Abduvaliyev (SUN) |
Sochi | 26 May 1990 | |
| 13 | 83.43 m (273 ft 81⁄2 in) |  Aleksey Zagornyi (RUS) |
Adler | 10 February 2002 | |
| 14 | 83.40 m (273 ft 71⁄4 in) |  Ralf Haber (DDR) |
Athens | 16 May 1988 | |
| 15 | 83.38 m (273 ft 61⁄2 in) | Szymon Ziółkowski (POL) |
Edmonton | 5 August 2001 | |
| 16 | 83.30 m (273 ft 31⁄2 in) |  Olli-Pekka Karjalainen (FIN) |
Lahti | 14 July 2004 | |
| 17 | 83.04 m (272 ft 51⁄4 in) |  Heinz Weis (DEU) |
Frankfurt | 29 June 1997 | |
| 18 | 83.00 m (272 ft 31⁄2 in) | Balázs Kiss (HUN) |
Saint-Denis | 4 June 1998 | |
| 19 | 82.78 m (271 ft 7 in) | Karsten Kobs (DEU) |
Dortmund | 26 June 1999 | |
| 20 | 82.69 m (271 ft 31⁄2 in) | Krisztián Pars (HUN) |
Zürich | 16 August 2014 | |
| 21 | 82.64 m (271 ft 11⁄2 in) | Günther Rodehau (DDR) |
Dresden | 3 August 1985 | |
| 22 | 82.62 m (271 ft 03⁄4 in) | Sergey Kirmasov (RUS) |
Zalaegerszeg | 30 May 1998 | |
| 82.62 m (271 ft 03⁄4 in) |  Andriy Skvaruk (UKR) |
Kiev | 27 April 2002 | ||
| 24 | 82.58 m (270 ft 11 in) |  Primož Kozmus (SVN) |
Celje | 2 September 2009 | |
| 25 | 82.54 m (270 ft 91⁄2 in) | Vasiliy Sidorenko (RUS) |
Krasnodar | 13 May 1992 |
Non-Legal Marks[edit]
- Ivan Tsikhan of Belarus also threw 86.73 on 3 July 2005 in Brest, but this performance was annulled due to drugs disqualification.
Women[edit]
- Correct as of August 2017.[3]
| Rank | Mark | Athlete | Date | Location | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 82.98 m (272 ft 23⁄4 in) | Anita Włodarczyk (POL) |
28 August 2016 | Warsaw | [4] |
| 2 | 79.42 m (260 ft 63⁄4 in) | Betty Heidler (DEU) |
21 May 2011 | Halle | |
| 3 | 78.80 m (258 ft 61⁄4 in) | Tatyana Lysenko (RUS) |
16 August 2013 | Moscow | |
| 4 | 78.69 m (258 ft 2 in) | Aksana Miankova (BLR) |
18 July 2012 | Minsk | |
| 5 | 77.68 m (254 ft 101⁄4 in) |  Zheng Wang (CHN) |
29 March 2014 | Chengdu | |
| 6 | 77.33 m (253 ft 81⁄4 in) | Zhang Wenxiu (CHN) |
28 September 2014 | Incheon | |
| 7 | 77.26 m (253 ft 51⁄2 in) | Gulfiya Agafonova (RUS) |
12 June 2006 | Tula | |
| 8 | 77.13 m (253 ft 01⁄2 in) | Oksana Kondratyeva (RUS) |
30 June 2013 | Zhukovskiy | |
| 9 | 76.90 m (252 ft 31⁄2 in) |  Martina Hrašnová (SVK) |
16 May 2009 | Trnava | |
| 10 | 76.85 m (252 ft 11⁄2 in) | Malwina Kopron (POL) |
26 August 2017 | Taipei | [5] |
| 11 | 76.83 m (252 ft 03⁄4 in) | Kamila Skolimowska (POL) |
11 May 2007 | Doha | |
| 12 | 76.77 m (251 ft 101⁄4 in) |  Gwen Berry (USA) |
6 May 2017 | Oxford | [6] |
| 13 | 76.72 m (251 ft 81⁄4 in) | Mariya Bespalova (RUS) |
23 June 2012 | Zhukovsky | |
| 14 | 76.66 m (251 ft 6 in) | Volha Tsander (BLR) |
23 June 2006 | Minsk | |
| 15 | 76.63 m (251 ft 43⁄4 in) | Yekaterina Khoroshikh (RUS) |
23 June 2006 | Zhukovsky | |
| 16 | 76.62 m (251 ft 41⁄2 in) |  Yipsi Moreno (CUB) |
9 September 2008 | Zagreb | |
| 17 | 76.56 m (251 ft 2 in) | Alena Matoshka (BLR) |
12 June 2012 | Minsk | |
| 18 | 76.33 m (250 ft 5 in) | Darya Pchelnik (BLR) |
29 June 2008 | Minsk | |
| 19 | 76.21 m (250 ft 01⁄4 in) | Yelena Konevtseva (RUS) |
26 May 2007 | Sochi | |
| 20 | 76.17 m (249 ft 103⁄4 in) | Anna Bulgakova (RUS) |
24 July 2013 | Moscow | |
| 21 | 76.07 m (249 ft 63⁄4 in) |  Mihaela Melinte (ROU) |
29 August 1999 | Rüdlingen | |
| 22 | 76.05 m (249 ft 6 in) | Kathrin Klaas (DEU) |
10 August 2012 | London | |
| 23 | 75.73 m (248 ft 51⁄4 in) | Amanda Bingson (USA) |
22 June 2013 | Des Moines | |
| 75.73 m (248 ft 51⁄4 in) |  Sultana Frizell (CAN) |
22 May 2014 | Tucson | ||
| 25 | 75.68 m (248 ft 31⁄2 in) | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS) |
4 June 2000 | Tula |
Notes[edit]
Below is a list of throws equal or superior to 77.40 m:
- Anita Włodarczyk also threw 82.87 m (2017), 82.29 m (2016), 81.77 m (2016), 81.74 (2016), 81.63 m (2017), 81.27 m (2016), 81.08 m (2015), 80.85 m (2015), 80.79 m (2017), 80.73 m (2017), 80.69 m (2017), 80.42 m (2017), 80.40 m (2016), 80.31 m (2016), 80.26 m (2016), 79.80 m (2017), 79.73 m (2017), 79.72 m (2017), 79.68 m (2016, 2017), 79.67 m (2016), 79.62 m (2016), 79.61 m (2016), 79.58 m (2016), 79.48 m (2016), 79.45 m (2016), 79.39 m (2016), 79.27 m (2017), 79.23 m (2017), 79.07 m (2017), 79.06 m (2017), 78.76 m (2014), 78.69 m (2016), 79.63 m (2017), 78.59 m (2017), 78.54 m (2016), 78.52 m (2017), 78.46 m (2013), 78.35 m (2017), 78.30 m (2010), 78.28 m (2015), 78.24 m (2015), 78.22 m (2013), 78.17 m (2014), 78.16 m (2015), 78.14 m (2016), 78.10 (2016), 78.00 m (2017), 77.99 m (2017), 77.96 m (2009), 77.77 m (2017), 77.73 m (2015), 77.70 m (2016), 77.67 m (2017), 77.66 m (2014), 77.60 m (2012).
- Tatyana Beloborodova also threw 78.51 m (2012), 78.15 m (2013), 77.80 m (2006), 77.41 m (2006).
- Aksana Miankova also threw 78.19 m (2012).
- Betty Heidler also threw 78.07 m (2012), 78.00 m (2014), 77.53 m (2011), 77.40 m (2011).
Non-Legal Marks[edit]
- Gulfiya Agafonova of Russia also threw 77.36 on 26 May 2007 in Sochi, but this performance was annulled due to doping offense.
Olympic medalists[edit]
Men[edit]
Women[edit]
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Sydney |
 Kamila Skolimowska (POL) |
 Olga Kuzenkova (RUS) |
 Kirsten Münchow (GER) |
| 2004 Athens |
Olga Kuzenkova (RUS) |
 Yipsi Moreno (CUB) |
Yunaika Crawford (CUB) |
| 2008 Beijing |
Yipsi Moreno (CUB) |
 Zhang Wenxiu (CHN) |
 Manuela Montebrun (FRA) |
| 2012 London |
Anita Włodarczyk (POL) |
Betty Heidler (GER) |
Zhang Wenxiu (CHN) |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro |
Anita Włodarczyk (POL) |
Zhang Wenxiu (CHN) |
 Sophie Hitchon (GBR) |
World Championships medalists[edit]
Men[edit]
Women[edit]
| Championships | 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 |
Yipsi Moreno (CUB) |
Tatyana Lysenko (RUS) |
Manuela Montebrun (FRA) |
| 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 Włodarczyk (POL) |
Zhang Wenxiu (CHN) |
| 2015 Beijing |
Anita Włodarczyk (POL) |
Zhang Wenxiu (CHN) |
Alexandra Tavernier (FRA) |
| 2017 London |
Anita Włodarczyk (POL) |
Wang Zheng (CHN) |
Malwina Kopron (POL) |
Season's bests[edit]
Men[edit]
|
Women[edit]
|
See also[edit]
Notes and references[edit]
- ^ "Hammer Throw - Introduction". IAAF. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ^ Phil Minshull (9 August 2015). "Fajdek throws 83.93m in Szczecin". IAAF. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ^ "All-time women's best hammer throw". IAAF. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "Wlodarczyk extends hammer world record in Warsaw". IAAF. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ "Women's Hammer Final Results" (PDF). 2017.taipei. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ Todd Hefferman (6 May 2017). "Saluki Hall of Famer Berry breaks American hammer throw record". thesouthern.com. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ 2004 Olympic Hammer Throw Medalists. Olympic.org. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.
- ^ a b Engeler, Elaine (June 10, 2010). "CAS Reinstates Medals for Hammer Throwers". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
