The women's
javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field event where the javelin, a spear about in length, is thrown as far as possible. The javelin thrower gains momentum by running within a predetermined area. Javelin throwing is an event of both the men's de ...
field event at the
1972 Olympic Games took place on August 31 & September 1. On 11 June 1972
Ewa Gryziecka from
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
broke the javelin throw world record with a throw of 62.70m only to have
Ruth Fuchs break that record on the same day with a throw of 65.06m. In 1972 Fuchs was the strong favorite heading in the Olympics.
Kate Schmidt took the early lead on the first throw, but this was soon passed by the favorite on the second throw. She ended up topping her own mark two more time in rounds four and five. Fuchs would go one and set the new javelin world record in 1973, 1974 and 1976.
Records
Results
All throwers reaching and the top 12 including ties, advanced to the finals. Throwers in blue qualified by reaching the qualifying distance. Throwers listed in green qualified by being in the top 12. All distances are listed in metres.
Qualifying
Final
Key: OR = Olympic record; p = pass; x = fault; NM = no mark
References
External links
Official report
{{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Women's javelin throw
Women's javelin throw
Javelin throw at the Olympics
1972 in women's athletics
Women's events at the 1972 Summer Olympics