Freestyle Javelin
Freestyle javelin was a variation of the javelin throw event in which the athletes were allowed to hold any part of the javelin for the throw. This event was a part of the intercalated games in 1906 and the 1908 Olympics. The current version of javelin throw was also contested during the 1908 Olympics along with the freestyle throw. Thereafter the freestyle event was discontinued for future games.
A total of 33 athletes from nine different nations competed in the freestyle javelin event at the 1908 games. The majority of the participants came from the Scandinavian countries and all the participants for the event were from European countries.
Eric Lemming from Sweden won the gold medal for the event with a throw of 54.44 meters. Eric used the current day javelin throw technique for his throw and his distance was a new world record and an Olympic record at that time.
Michalis Dorizas from Greece won the silver medal with a 51.36 meter throw. Arne Halse of Norway took the bronze with his 49.73 meter throw. Though eight athletes from Finland contested in the event, highest from a single nation, none of them were able to secure a podium finish.
Related Pages
- Other Track and Field discontinued events
- See also the discontinued Two Hands Javelin event from 1912
- About Javelin at the Olympics
- Full list of all Discontinued Events
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