Hammer Throw

The hammer throw is an Olympic throwing event where the objective is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a grip by means of a wire. The athlete who achieves the greatest distance in throwing the hammer is deemed the winner of the competition.

The hammer throw originated in the ancient Celtic games; it wasn't part of the ancient Greek Olympics. During that time, the hammer throw was a lot different from what we see in the modern Olympic games. The “hammer” back then was a sledge hammer with a wooden handle. Also, the original hammer throw had athletes running up a certain distance before releasing the hammer, as opposed to the modern throw where athletes are confined inside a throwing circle. In both cases, the winner is determined by measuring the greatest distance achieved by an athlete. The traditional hammer throw can still be seen in the Scottish Highland Games.

Today's modern hammer throw varies greatly from the original concept that was use in the ancient period. The hammer, for one, has changed. From the sledge hammer that was used, today's hammer is composed of a 16lb metal ball (men's) attached to a wire and a handle. Instead of running area, athletes gain momentum by spinning inside a throwing circle and releasing the hammer after the third or fourth turn. The two most important factors for achieving a good throw are the speed of the ball and the angle of its release.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the governing body that records each athletic event and sets the rules for every international competition, including the hammer throw. The following are the rules in a hammer throwing competition:
1) The IAAF has specified the weight of the steel ball used in the hammer throw in its rulebook. The material and length of the wire (4 ft. maximum), are also determined by the organization.
2) Athletes are not permitted to leave the field without the consent of the judge/s during competition.
3) The athlete is not allowed to exit the throwing circle upon release of the hammer until it hammer first touches the ground in the landing area.
4) The body movements of the athletes at the time of throwing the hammer and the movements made after releasing the hammer is specified in the IAAF rulebook.
5) Athletes are given a specified number of chances to throw the hammer during competition. The winner is determined by measuring the longest distance achieved in a legal throw.
6) In case of a tie, the second best throw is considered in determining a winner for a competition.