The men's freestyle

javelin throw The javelin throw is a track and field event where the javelin, a spear about in length, is thrown. The javelin thrower gains momentum by running within a predetermined area. Javelin throwing is an event of both the men's decathlon and the ...

was one of six throwing events on the

Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics At the 1908 Summer Olympics held in London, England, 26 athletics events were contested, all for men only. A total of 79 medals (27 gold, 27 silver, 25 bronze) were awarded. Each nation was allowed to enter up to 12 competitors in most of the ev ...

programme in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. The javelin could be held anywhere, as opposed to the standard javelin throw which required the javelin to be held by a grip in the middle. This was the only time such a "freestyle" event was held at the Olympics. The competition was held on 15 July 1908. 33 throwers from nine nations competed. NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes.Official report, p. 32.

Results

Eric Lemming Eric Otto Valdemar Lemming (22 February 1880 – 5 June 1930) was a Swedish track and field athlete who competed at the 1900, 1906, 1908 and 1912 Olympics in a wide variety of events, which mostly involved throwing and jumping. He had his best r ...

set a new world and Olympic record with 54.44 metres. He threw the javelin in a conventional manner.

References

Sources

* Official Report of the Games of the IV Olympiad (1908). * De Wael, Herman. ''Herman's Full Olympians'': "Athletics 1908". Accessed 7 April 2006. Available electronically a

{{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics At The 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Javelin Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics Javelin throw at the Olympics