The Only World Record That Was Too Good To Count

I don't understand how they can erase a record if it was legal under the rules in effect at the time. Start a new set of records for the new rules, but leave the old ones on the books.

"The Olympics, to celebrate the peak of human capability." Also. "Too good! You're too good!"

Imagine being the guy that changed the rules to an event. Absolute legend status right there

Javelin: Flies too far. Me: "Make the field longer!" Thanos: "Make the javelin worse."

I would like to see a 3km long field, with the original javelin. Just imagine what the true world record would be if the field was lengthened.

I think this just means the javelin event needs to be moved to a more optimal venue. Instead of limiting the distance because of space, just increase the space.

When talking about Räty, you have to mention his incredible injury record. He was strength first thrower and that really showed in how prone he was to being injured. An absolute legend, and had potential for so much more.

4:40 When the officials at the end of the tape are all sprinting away from you it's a good hit.

And then Jan Zelezny went on a terror and broke the world record at 98.48 meters and will certainly be called the greatest javelin thrower ever.. Hohn had injuries shortly after his mark of 104 so the consistency of being able to compete was not really there for him.. Raty and Tapio for Finland were great throwers as well..

Fun fact: the javelin used by Uwe Hohn for his WR in 1984 was designed by Miklos Nemeth who set the WR in 1976.

That slip damaged his ankle and it got worse as the rounds progressed. He kept throwing warm up throws through the competition, just to load up everything on the last one. With a busted support leg, that is supposed to be stomped on the throw line and transfer the running energy to the hand and to the javelin. His growl ends up in an "ai" which is a cry of pain. Seppo Räty is not the kind of guy who cries from pain.

The original changes to javelin specs pushed throwers such as myself and many others out of the event. It became much more of a strength event.

Boy, it’d be interesting to see his distance with an earlier, optimized version of the javelin…

Seppo Räty is one of the biggest Finnish legends. He and the ski jumper Matti Nykänen are responsible of half of the funny quotes used by Finns to this day. After throwing this javelin competition in Punkalaidun, reporter wanted to know why he was so good: "I've been getting so good food that I've put in 5 kilos." On preparing for Barcelona Olympics: "I've been driving around with Mika Halvari because it's been so cold." Explaining his smile and handwaving at medal ceremony: "I waved just to fuck around." On losing a competition in Germany: "Germany is a shit country." On preparations for Helsinki EC 1994: "I rest or get drunk." Before 1996 Atlanta Olympics: 500 000 marks in cold cash in my hand, and the stick flies over 100 metres." "Before leaving for Atlanta I decided that I wouldn't speak one word English. Speaking Finnish would have to suffice." "I can throw 60m standing still." "I feel pity for (Usain Bolt's) wife, girlfriend or girlfriends. The guy is done under 20 seconds and already dripping in sweat." Sports reporter asking him to say something with substance/weight: "Caterpillar." On losing a Mercedes in Stuttgart that they gave out to winners: "I didn't even want one, because it's a shabby car." Said to a female javelin thrower Heli Rantanen on the pitch in Atlanta 1996 "Throw so hard that your pussy tears up." and "Throw so hard that you'll piss yourself." Heli won gold. When asked if he'll do a victory lap: "I won't go unless they force me." About an upcoming 20-something thrower: "They can concentrate only on two things. If you try to study, do sports and fuck, there's one thing too many. You can study later."

The records count. Each reset generates a new category.

The speed of the second change probably has as much to do with bureaucratic inertia as it does with the quality of either of the two throws. Once they decided the javelin could be changed, changing it again would be less of a big deal.

I was a young javelin thrower when this happened, just learning the event, and my dad told me about him throwing 97 metres after he heard about it on the radio. It took my club a while to get the new design javelins, but when they did, even the kiddie ones I was throwing went nearly 10 metres less distance!!!!

When you look at the records you have to go to non legal throws to find Ratys throws which were legal at the time but go down to the freethrow category and youll see a distance of 99.25m achieved in 1956.... it was with a spinning technique where the javelin would be held at the hip

would be interesting to optimize the javelin as much as possible and see how far a human could take it? Are there other throwing objects that would take it even furter with optimisation? Like a discus or frisbee of some sort?

Thanks for the amazing story I never would have heard anywhere else. Absolutely LOVE this type of stuff, and share it with my dad who loves it too. Thanks again