The document provides instructions for how to properly perform the hammer throw event in track and field. It begins with a brief history, noting the event originated in the 15th century and became part of the Olympics in 1900. It then explains the necessary safety equipment and specifications of the throwing circle and hammer. The bulk of the document describes the technical components of a successful throw, including gripping the hammer, preliminary swings, entry into the throw, turns to build momentum, and delivery to release the hammer at its high point opposite the starting position.
2. introduction
• For safety purposes, the event takes place in a cage with moveable
doors to accommodate left and right-handed throwers.
• The throwing circle measure 2.135m in diameter and is either single-use
or concentric within a discus circle. The hammer is a steel ball attached
to wire via a spindle inserted into the ball, and the wire is attached to a
steel handle.
• A specialist fingerless leather glove is used to give protection. The
athlete holds the hammer handle and specialist shoes are used to assist
in reducing friction and gaining maximum speed while turning with the
hammer.
3. History
• With roots dating back to the 15th century, the contemporary version of
the hammer throw is one of the oldest of Olympic Games competitions,
first included at the 1900 games in Paris, France (the second Olympiad of
the modern era).
• The hammer evolved from its early informal origins to become part of
the Scottish Highland games in the late 18th century, where the original
version of the event is still contested today.
• While the men's hammer throw has been part of the Olympics since
1900, the International Association of Athletics Federations did not start
ratifying women's marks until 1995.
• Women's hammer throw was first included in the Olympics at the 2000
summer games in Sydney, Australia after having been included in
the World Championships a year earlier.
4. The components of the throw
• THE GRIP
• THE SWINGS
• THE ENTRY
• THE TURNS
• THE DELIVERY
5. The grip
• The athlete's left hand, wearing the glove, grips the handle
between the 2nd and 3rd joints of the fingers and the right hand is
then placed inside the handle on top of the left hand.
6. The swings
• The athlete stands at the rear of the circle [12
o'clock] feet parallel, with back towards the
throwing sector [6 o'clock]. The preliminary
swings are used to commence the momentum of
the throw.
• The athlete, in general, uses two swings, but
more or less can be used. The swing starts from
behind the right side of the body, taking the
hammer forward away from the body and over
the head. This will achieve a low point of the
hammer ball in front of the body [12 o'clock] and
a high point behind [6 o'clock].
7. The entry
• At the end of the swings, the athlete is
about to enter the turning phase. With
the hammer directly in front of the
thrower, the low point, the turns
commence. The shoulders are relaxed,
head passive, trunk engaged, knees and
hips flexed, feet remaining in contact
with the circle.
• The hammer is pushed to the left and
the turns are started.
8. The turns
• The number of turns performed is
a personal choice, but in general 3
or 4 are used. These are a series of
movements performed to increase
the speed of the hammer using
balance through the feet, and
power from the legs and hips. The
feet are working together
throughout the throw.
9. The delivery
• After the turns performed by the
thrower have accelerated the hammer
head to its maximal velocity, the
thrower now stays with both feet in
contact with the circle but still rotating
and, at the same time, extending
through ankles, knees and hips to drive
the hammer upward and out to a
position opposite the low point, known
as the high point, at which point the
hammer is released.
• In the drive upward, the feet are
pointing at "9 o'clock", and the left side
of the body is blocked.