Javelin throw at the Olympics
| Javelin throw at the Olympic Games | |
|---|---|
The 1948 javelin throw competition, Tapio Rautavaara (FIN) | |
| Overview | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Gender | Men and women |
| Years held | Men: 1908–2024 Women: 1932–2024 |
| Olympic record | |
| Men | 92.97 m Arshad Nadeem (2024) |
| Women | 71.53 m Osleidys Menéndez (2004) |
| Reigning champion | |
| Men | Arshad Nadeem (PAK) |
| Women | Haruka Kitaguchi (JPN) |
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.
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.