The first world record in the men's javelin throw was recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912.
As of 21 June 2009, 46 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event. New specifications for the javelin were introduced in 1986, and javelins with serrated tails were banned in 1991 which reverted to an earlier record set in 1990.
Record progression MarkAthleteDateLocation62.3229 September 1912Stockholm, Sweden66.1025 August 1919Stockholm, Sweden66.6212 October 1924Eksjö, Sweden69.888 October 1927Viipuri, Finland71.0115 August 1928Stockholm, Sweden71.578 August 1930Viipuri, Finland71.7017 August 1930Tampere, Finland71.8831 August 1930Vaasa, Finland72.9314 September 1930Viipuri, Finland74.0227 June 1932Turku, Finland74.2825 May 1933Mikkeli, Finland74.617 June 1933Vaasa, Finland76.1015 June 1933Helsinki, Finland76.667 September 1934Turin, Italy77.2318 June 1936Helsinki, Finland77.8725 August 1938Karhula, Finland78.7016 October 1938Kotka, Finland80.418 August 1953Pasadena, CA, United States81.7521 May 1955Modesto, CA, United States83.5624 June 1956Kuhmoinen, Finland83.6630 June 1956Milan, Italy85.7126 November 1956Melbourne86.045 June 1959Compton, CA, United States86.741 June 1961Milan, Italy87.121 July 1964Oslo, Norway91.722 September 1964Oslo, Norway91.9823 June 1968Saarijärvi, Finland92.7018 June 1969Tampere, Finland93.806 July 1972Stockholm, Sweden94.085 May 1973Leverkusen, West Germany94.5825 July 1976Montreal, Canada96.7223 April 1980Tata, Hungary99.7215 May 1983Los Angeles, United States104.8020 July 1984East Berlin, East Germany
New specifications were introduced in 1986.
MarkAthleteDateLocation85.7421 September 1986Como, Italy87.6631 May 1987Nitra, Czechoslovakia89.1024 March 1990Austin, United States89.582 July 1990Stockholm, Sweden89.66 *14 July 1990Oslo, Norway90.98 *20 July 1990London, England91.98 *6 May 1991Shizuoka, Japan96.96 *2 June 1991Punkalaidun, Finland * achieved using Németh model (serrated tail)
Javelins with serrated tails were outlawed by the IAAF in Tokyo in August 1991 at the IAAF-Congress; several of the above records were rescinded as from 20 September 1991, and the record reverted to Steve Backley's 89.58, the longest throw with the regular new implement (as of 1986).
MarkAthleteDateLocationDuration of record89.582 July 1990Stockholm, Sweden 91.4625 January 1992North Shore City, New Zealand 95.546 April 1993Pietersburg, South Africa 95.6629 August 1993Sheffield, United Kingdom 98.4825 May 1996Jena, Germany
See also Women's javelin throw world record progression Men's javelin throw Italian record progression
References