Men's javelin throw world record progression

Last updated August 11, 2024

The first world record in the men's javelin throw was recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912.^[1]

As of 21 June 2009, 46 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event.^[1] New specifications for the javelin were introduced in 1986, and javelins with serrated tails were banned in 1991 which had the effect of reverting to an earlier record set in 1990.^[1]

Record progression

Mark	Athlete	Date	Location
62.32	Eric Lemming (SWE)	29 September 1912	Stockholm, Sweden^[1]
66.10	Jonni Myyrä (FIN)	25 August 1919	Stockholm, Sweden^[1]
66.62	Gunnar Lindström (SWE)	12 October 1924	Eksjö, Sweden^[1]
69.88	Eino Penttilä (FIN)	8 October 1927	Viipuri, Finland^[1]
71.01	Erik Lundqvist (SWE)	15 August 1928	Stockholm, Sweden^[1]
71.57	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	8 August 1930	Viipuri, Finland^[1]
71.70	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	17 August 1930	Tampere, Finland^[1]
71.88	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	31 August 1930	Vaasa, Finland^[1]
72.93	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	14 September 1930	Viipuri, Finland^[1]
74.02	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	27 June 1932	Turku, Finland^[1]
74.28	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	25 May 1933	Mikkeli, Finland^[1]
74.61	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	7 June 1933	Vaasa, Finland^[1]
76.10	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	15 June 1933	Helsinki, Finland^[1]
76.66	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	7 September 1934^[1]	Turin, Italy
77.23	Matti Järvinen (FIN)	18 June 1936	Helsinki, Finland^[1]
77.87	Yrjö Nikkanen (FIN)	25 August 1938	Karhula, Finland^[1]
78.70	Yrjö Nikkanen (FIN)	16 October 1938	Kotka, Finland^[1]
80.41	Bud Held (USA)	8 August 1953	Pasadena, CA, United States^[1]
81.75	Bud Held (USA)	21 May 1955	Modesto, CA, United States^[1]
83.56	Soini Nikkinen (FIN)	24 June 1956	Kuhmoinen, Finland^[1]
83.66	Janusz Sidło (POL)	30 June 1956	Milan, Italy^[1]
85.71	Egil Danielsen (NOR)	26 November 1956	Melbourne ^[1]
86.04	Albert Cantello (USA)	5 June 1959	Compton, CA, United States^[1]
86.74	Carlo Lievore (ITA)	1 June 1961	Milan, Italy^[1]
87.12	Terje Pedersen (NOR)	1 July 1964	Oslo, Norway^[1]
91.72	Terje Pedersen (NOR)	2 September 1964	Oslo, Norway^[1]
91.98	Jānis Lūsis (URS)	23 June 1968	Saarijärvi, Finland^[1]
92.70	Jorma Kinnunen (FIN)	18 June 1969	Tampere, Finland^[1]
93.80	Jānis Lūsis (URS)	6 July 1972	Stockholm, Sweden^[1]
94.08	Klaus Wolfermann (FRG)	5 May 1973	Leverkusen, West Germany^[1]
94.58	Miklós Németh (HUN)	25 July 1976	Montreal, Canada^[1]
96.72	Ferenc Paragi (HUN)	23 April 1980	Tata, Hungary^[1]
99.72	Tom Petranoff (USA)	15 May 1983	Los Angeles, United States^[1]
104.80	Uwe Hohn (GDR)	20 July 1984	East Berlin, East Germany^[1]

New specifications were introduced in 1986.

Mark	Athlete	Date	Location
85.74	Klaus Tafelmeier (FRG)	21 September 1986	Como, Italy^[1]
87.66	Jan Železný (TCH)	31 May 1987	Nitra, Czechoslovakia ^[1]
89.10	Patrik Bodén (SWE)	24 March 1990	Austin, United States^[1]
89.58	Steve Backley (GBR)	2 July 1990	Stockholm, Sweden^[1]
89.66 *	Jan Železný (TCH)	14 July 1990	Oslo, Norway^[1]
90.98 *	Steve Backley (GBR)	20 July 1990	London, England^[1]
91.98 *	Seppo Räty (FIN)	6 May 1991	Shizuoka, Japan^[1]
96.96 *	Seppo Räty (FIN)	2 June 1991	Punkalaidun, Finland^[1]

* 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).

Mark	Athlete	Date	Location	Duration of record
89.58	Steve Backley (GBR)	2 July 1990	Stockholm, Sweden^[1]	1 year, 6 months and 23 days
91.46	Steve Backley (GBR)	25 January 1992	North Shore City, New Zealand^[1]	1 year, 2 months and 12 days
95.54	Jan Železný (CZE)	6 April 1993	Pietersburg, South Africa^[1]	4 months and 23 days
95.66	Jan Železný (CZE)	29 August 1993	Sheffield, United Kingdom^[1]	2 years, 8 months and 26 days
98.48	Jan Železný (CZE)	25 May 1996	Jena, Germany^[1]	28 years, 2 months

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009" (PDF). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. pp. Pages 546, 559. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2009.

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[iaaf-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009" (PDF). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. pp. Pages 546, 559. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2009.

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