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 men's hammer throw competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens was held at the Olympic Stadium on 20–22 August. There were 35 competitors from 24 nations. The event was marred by doping-related disqualifications, with the original first- and third-place athletes being removed. After those disqualifications, the event was won by Koji Murofushi of Japan, the nation's first medal in the event. No silver medal was awarded. Eşref Apak of Turkey received bronze, Turkey's first medal in the event as well.
The women's hammer throw competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens was held at the Olympic Stadium on 23–25 August.
The men's javelin throw competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens was held at the Olympic Stadium on 25–27 August.
The women's javelin throw competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens was held at the Olympic Stadium on 25–27 August.
The men's hammer throw at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place on 15 August (qualifying) and 17 (final) at the Beijing National Stadium. There were 33 competitors from 26 nations. The event was won by Primož Kozmus of Slovenia, the nation's first medal in the event.
The women's hammer throw event at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place on 18–20 August at the Beijing National Stadium.
The Women's Hammer Throw event at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Olympic Stadium on August 20 and August 22.
The women's javelin throw at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Luzhniki Stadium on 16–18 August.
The men's hammer throw at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Luzhniki Stadium on 10–12 August.
The women's hammer throw at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Luzhniki Stadium on 14–16 August.
The women's hammer throw competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event was held at the Olympic Stadium on 12–15 August. Each athlete received three throws in the qualifying round. All who achieved the qualifying distance progressed to the final. Each finalist was allowed three throws in last round, with the top eight athletes after that point being given three further attempts.
The women's hammer throw at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Beijing National Stadium on 26 and 27 August.
The women's hammer throw at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Olympic Stadium on 5 and 7 August.
The men's hammer throw event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place between 2 and 4 August 2021 at the Japan National Stadium. Approximately 35 athletes were expected to compete; the exact number was dependent on how many nations used universality places to enter athletes in addition to the 32 qualifying through distance or ranking. 31 athletes from 21 nations competed. Wojciech Nowicki of Poland won the gold medal, adding to his 2016 bronze to become the 15th man to earn multiple hammer throw medals. It was Poland's second gold medal in the event, after Szymon Ziółkowski's 2000 victory. Nowicki's countryman Paweł Fajdek took bronze. Between them was Norwegian thrower Eivind Henriksen, with his silver being Norway's first-ever Olympic medal in the men's hammer.
The women's hammer throw event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place on 1 and 3 August 2021 at the Japan National Stadium. Approximately 35 athletes competed; the exact number was dependent on how many nations use universality places to enter athletes in addition to the 32 qualifying through distance or ranking.
The women's hammer throw at the 2019 World Athletics Championships was held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha from 27 to 28 September 2019.
The women's hammer throw at the 2022 World Athletics Championships was held at the Hayward Field in Eugene on 15 and 17 July 2022.
The women's hammer throw at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships was held at Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero on 3 and 5 August 2022.
