Coaching and Care of Athletes

CHAPTER XXVI THE JAVELIN THROW JAVELIN-THROWING takes place from behind a scratch-line at least I2 ft. in length marked on the ground. The thrower is allowed to take as long a run as he likes, provided he does not overstep the scratch-line. The javelin is made of wood, with a sharp steel point, the construction of which makes a good deal of difference in the distance the weapon can be thrown. The javelin must be so constructed that the space between the tip of the steel head and the centre of gravity is not longer than 3 ft. 7i ins. or shorter than 2 ft. I If ins. About the centre of gravity a grip is formed by a binding of whipcord 6-l 11 ins. broad, the circumference of which must not exceed the circumference of the shaft by more than I in. The length of the javelin may not be less than 8ft. 6 ins., nor its weight less than db. I2t oz. Javelin-throwing was one of the events in the Pentathlon at the ancient festivals of the Olympic Games. It was probably revived as a sport in modern times when Per Henrik Ling gave the world his Swedish system of gymnastics and brought about a revival of sport in Sweden. The first trace of a modern championship is to be found in the victory in I8g6 of Harald Andersson, who took the first Swedish title at 202 ft., this being the total of his best throw with the right hand and his best throw with the left hand added together. An Hellenic Festival, sometimes referred to as an intercalated series of Olympic Games, was held at Athens in Igo6, when the javelin event was included at the request of Sweden. This event was won by Eric Lemming (Plate IX, Fig. 30), a Stockholm policeman standing 6ft. 3 ins. and weighing 14 stone, who was then twenty– six years of age and had been competing for some ten years. Lemming's winning throw was I 76 ft. ro ins. Three other Swedes beat 145 ft., and among the unplaced competitors were representatives of Germany, Greece, Bohemia, Hungary, and Finland. I doubt if a javelin had ever been seen in England up to a few weeks before British trials were held for the selection of the team 383