World Records — Javelin Throw Men

The Javelin Throw Men world record stands at 98.48, set by Jan Železný (CZE) in 1996. Explore its full progression through athletics history.

Record progression

Mark over the years. The higher the curve, the better the record.

608010019201940196019802000202062.32 · Lemming98.48 · Železný

Record History

1996Jan ŽeleznýCurrentCZE—May 25, 1996Jena, GermanyOngoing98.48+2.82m
1993Jan ŽeleznýCZE—Aug 29, 1993Sheffield, United Kingdom2.7 years95.66+0.12m
1993Jan ŽeleznýCZE—Apr 6, 1993Pietersburg, South Africa5 months95.54+4.08m
1992Steve BackleyGBR—Jan 25, 1992North Shore City, New Zealand14 months91.46+1.88m
1990Steve BackleyGBR—Jul 2, 1990Stockholm, Sweden19 months89.58+0.48m
1990Patrik BodénSWE—Mar 24, 1990Austin, United States3 months89.10+1.44m
1987Jan ŽeleznýCZE—May 31, 1987Nitra, Czechoslovakia2.8 years87.66+1.92m
1986Klaus TafelmeierFRG—Sep 21, 1986Como, Italy8 months85.74-19.06m
1984Uwe HohnGDR—Jul 20, 1984East Berlin, East Germany2.2 years104.8+5.08m
1983Tom PetranoffUSA—May 15, 1983Los Angeles, United States14 months99.72+3.00m
1980Ferenc ParagiHUN—Apr 23, 1980Tata, Hungary3.1 years96.72+2.14m
1976Miklós NémethHUN—Jul 25, 1976Montreal, Canada3.7 years94.58+0.50m
1973Klaus WolfermannFRG—May 5, 1973Leverkusen, West Germany3.2 years94.08+0.28m
1972Jänis LusisURS—Jul 6, 1972Stockholm, Sweden10 months93.8+1.10m
1969Jorma KINNUNENFIN—Jun 18, 1969Tampere, Finland3 years92.7+0.72m
1968Jänis LusisURS—Jun 23, 1968Saarijärvi, Finland12 months91.98+0.26m
1964Terje PedersenNOR—Sep 2, 1964Oslo, Norway3.8 years91.72+4.60m
1964Terje PedersenNOR—Jul 1, 1964Oslo, Norway2 months87.12+0.38m
1961Carlo LievoreITA—Jun 1, 1961Milan, Italy3.1 years86.74+0.70m
1959Albert CantelloUSA—Jun 5, 1959Compton, CA, United States24 months86.04+0.33m
1956Egil DanielsenNOR—Nov 26, 1956Melbourne2.5 years85.71+2.05m
1956Janusz SidłoPOL—Jun 30, 1956Milan, Italy5 months83.66+0.10m
1956Soini NikkinenFIN—Jun 24, 1956Kuhmoinen, Finland6 d83.56+1.81m
1955Bud HeldUSA—May 21, 1955Modesto, CA, United States13 months81.75+1.34m
1953Bud HeldUSA—Aug 8, 1953Pasadena, CA, United States21 months80.41+1.71m
1938Yrjö NikkanenFIN—Oct 16, 1938Kotka, Finland14.8 years78.7+0.83m
1938Yrjö NikkanenFIN—Aug 25, 1938Karhula, Finland52 d77.87+0.64m
1936Matti JärvinenFIN—Jun 18, 1936Helsinki, Finland2.2 years77.23+0.57m
1934Matti JärvinenFIN—Sep 7, 1934Turin, Italy21 months76.66+0.56m
1933Matti JärvinenFIN—Jun 15, 1933Helsinki, Finland15 months76.1+1.49m
1933Matti JärvinenFIN—Jun 7, 1933Vaasa, Finland8 d74.61+0.33m
1933Matti JärvinenFIN—May 25, 1933Mikkeli, Finland13 d74.28+0.26m
1932Matti JärvinenFIN—Jun 27, 1932Turku, Finland11 months74.02+1.09m
1930Matti JärvinenFIN—Sep 14, 1930Viipuri, Finland21 months72.93+1.05m
1930Matti JärvinenFIN—Aug 31, 1930Vaasa, Finland14 d71.88+0.18m
1930Matti JärvinenFIN—Aug 17, 1930Tampere, Finland14 d71.7+0.13m
1930Matti JärvinenFIN—Aug 8, 1930Viipuri, Finland9 d71.57+0.56m
1928Erik LundqvistSWE—Aug 15, 1928Stockholm, Sweden24 months71.01+1.13m
1927Eino PenttiläFIN—Oct 8, 1927Viipuri, Finland10 months69.88+3.26m
1924Gunnar LindströmSWE—Oct 12, 1924Eksjö, Sweden3 years66.62+0.52m
1919Jonni MyyräFIN—Aug 25, 1919Stockholm, Sweden5.1 years66.1+3.78m
1912Eric LemmingSWE—Sep 29, 1912Stockholm, Sweden6.9 years62.32—
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Jan Železný (Czechia) holds the Javelin Throw Men world record with 98.48, set on May 25, 1996 in Jena, Germany.

Steve Backley (United Kingdom) held it with 91.46, from January 25, 1992 until April 6, 1993 (1 years).

Elite Trackr's progression lists 41 improvements since 1912, when Eric Lemming set 62.32.