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Hammer Throw

Coming to the last discipline of the Throwing section, we have the Hammer Throw, a track and field event where a metal ball is attached to a grip by a steel wire. The history can be dated back to 2000 BC according to the Irish Legend where Cuchulainn threw a chariot axle attached to a wheel an enormous distance in Tara, Ireland. During the Middle Ages, athletes used to throw a sledgehammer in Scotland and England. Hammer throwing has been a part of the Olympic program for men since 1900 and for women since 2000.

https://pixabay.com/vectors/man-athlete-hammer-throw-sports-8034415

Technique
When it comes to the technique, procedures can differ heavily depending on your abilities. Beginners should use a single-arm and three-turn technique while professionals incorporate a two-arm and four-turn technique. There are many different phases when approaching the hammer throw:

  • First athletes stand with their feet slightly apart for good balance while holding the grip with either one or two hands (depending on the technique). You can do one or two preliminary swings in order to keep balance and establish a rhythm
  • After that, athletes shift their weight from the left foot to the right while winding the hammer around the body to create more momentum
  • Keeping balance and rotating on the spot either four or three times, athletes try to hold their arms and body straight while increasing speed in every turn
  • At the last turn, athletes lean slightly back to have the hammer at a 45-degree angle when they release it
  • Releasing the ball should be performed quickly and the movement should be followed through. Athletes should also stay in the circle after the execution of the throw

Rules & Regulations

  • The Weight of the whole Hammer differs between men and women but stays the same between different competitions. For men, it usually weighs 7.26 kg and for women 4kg
  • Material requirements are: Comfortable and non-restrictive clothing, Flat-soled and smooth shoes, Leather or vegan-leather gloves and chalk
  • Throwing circles have to be surrounded by a protective cage and must have a diameter of 2.135 meters
  • The hammer must land in a designated 35 degree-area which is usually marked in white
    Records and Averages
    For Advanced athletes, the average distance amounts between 70 and 80 meters for men and 65 and 75 meters for women. Additionally, the first official world-record was Pat Ryan (US) with a distance of 57.77 meters in 1913. As a contrast, today’s world record is 86.74 meters by Yuriy Sedykh from the Soviet Union. He achieved this incredible distance in August 1986, almost 40 years ago, and it hasn’t been beaten yet. Looking at the women, Anita Wlodarczyk holds the current world record with the distance of 82.98 meters since 2018. In general, Hungary and Poland are probably the most dominating nations in hammer throwing since for men, Hungary was able to collect five gold medals in total and for women, Poland was able to gather four gold medals.

Hammer Throw
Hammer throw – Wikipedia