Javelin Video Archive - List of Olympic medalists in javelin throw - Women

Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
2008 Beijing	Barbora Špotáková 71.42m		Mariya Abakumova 70.78m		Christina Obergföll 66.13m

Barbora Špotáková (CZE) came in as the 2007 World Champion and with the best record of the year, and then led the qualifying with 67.69 (222-5). In the final Mariya Abakumova (RUS) opened with 69.32 (227-5), a national record and PR which made her the fourth-longest thrower ever. Špotáková answered with 69.22 (227-11), also a PR and national record, but settled into second place and they held those positions thru the first three rounds. In round four Abakumova hammered the spear out to 70.78 (232-3), making her the second-longest performer in history. But Špotáková came thru in the final round with 71.42 (234-4), less than a foot short of the world record, held by Cuba’s Osleidys Menéndez, who placed fifth with only one valid throw. The bronze medal went to Germany’s Christina Obergföll, silver medalist at the 2007 Worlds, who had opened with 66.13 (216-11) but then struggled with four fouls.

Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
2004 Athens	Osleidys Menéndez 71.53m		Steffi Nerius 65.82m		Mirela Manjani 64.29m

The favorite was the 2000 bronze medalist, Osleidys Menéndez (CUB), who was the world record holder, had won the 2001 World Championships, and had recorded the six longest throws of 2004. She settled matters in round one with 71.53 (234-81) metres, missing her world record by a centimeter. German Steffi Nerius, bronze medalist at the 2003 Worlds, moved up from fourth place to a silver medal with her final throw. The bronze medal went to the consistent Mirela Maniani-Tzelili of Greece, who had won the 1999 and 2003 World title, and won medals at the last four World Championships. Her final round throw secured the bronze to the delight of the Athinan crowd. In 2005, Menéndez would again win the World title. The sixth-place finisher, Laverne Eve of the Bahamas, had won the 1984 Pan-American Junior title in the shot put, and was twice a silver medalist in the javelin at the Pan-American Games (1995 and 2003).

Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
2000 Sydney	Trine Hattestad 68.91m		Mirela Manjani 67.51m		Osleidys Menéndez 66.18m

The javelin had been re-designed in 1998 and the world record list started anew. Norway’s Trine Hattestad set the first world record with the new implement on 28 July 2000. Twice favored at the Olympics (1992-96), she had been the most consistent thrower of the 1990s, winning the World Championships in 1993 and 1997, and the European Championship in 1994. In the first round, she threw 68.91 (226-1), the second-longest mark to date, and that would finally win her an Olympic gold medal. The silver medal went to the 1999 World Champion, Mirela Tzelili of Greece, while the bronze medal was won by the 1999 Pan-American Games champion, Osleidys Menéndez of Cuba.

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1996 Atlanta	Heli Rantanen 67.94m		Louise McPaul 65.54m		Trine Hattestad 64.98m

As in 1992 the favorites were Belarussian Nataliya Shikolenko and Norway’s Trine Hattestad. Hattestad was World Champion in 1993 while Shikolenko won that title in 1995, with Hattestad winning the 1994 European Championship. Shikolenko was decidedly off form in Atlanta. Her second throw hit an overhead camera cable, and although she was allowed to throw again, she would finish only 12th. Finland’s Heli Rantanen was the first thrower in the final, and recorded 67.94 (222-103) with that throw, which would win her the gold medal. Hattestad was able to win bronze, but the surprise silver medalist was Australian Louise McPaul, 1994 Commonwealth Games champion, who moved up from fourth place in the final round.

Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1992 Barcelona	Silke Renk 68.34m		Natalya Shikolenko 68.26m		Karen Forkel 66.86m

Petra Felke (GER) was the defending champion but was not the dominant thrower she had been in 1988. She had finished second at the 1991 World Championships behind Xu Demei (CHN), while the 1990 European Champion was Finland’s Päivi Alafrantti. But the best throwers in 1992 had been Belarussian Nataliya Shikolenko and Norway’s Trine Hattestad, and they led the qualifiers. Shikolenko took the lead in the final with 68.26 (223-111) in the first round. Round one produced all the medalists as Silke Renk (GER) threw 67.24 (220-71) and Karen Forkel, eventual bronze medalist, threw 65.02 (213-4), and nobody would surpass those marks except the leaders. The standings held up through five rounds with Shikolenko leading Renk, who then won the gold medal with 68.34 (224-21) on her final toss.

Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1988 Seoul	Petra Felke 74.68m OR		Fatima Whitbread 70.32m		Beate Koch 67.30m

Fatima Whitbread (GBR) had won the two biggest meets since the 1984 Olympics – the 1986 Europeans and the 1987 Worlds, and set a world record in winning the 1986 European title. But the best thrower in the world for the past four years had been Petra Felke (GDR) who had won 69 of 76 meets in that time, although with three losses coming to Whitbread. Felke had set four world records, culminating with a precise 80 metres (262-53) a few weeks before the Seoul Olympics. The competition was expected to be close between the two, and Whitbread led the qualifiers with 68.04 (223-23) with Felke second with 67.06 (220-01). But Felke settled the gold medal in round one by throwing 72.62 (238-31). She bettered that with 74.68 (245-01) in the second round but Whitbread could not approach those marks, finishing with 70.32 (230-81) in the final round to secure second place.

Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1984 Los Angeles	Tessa Sanderson 69.56m		Tiina Lillak 69.00m		Fatima Whitbread 67.14m

This was one women’s throwing event that was not completely devalued by the Soviet-led boycott. The 1983 World Champion had been Finland’s Tiina Lillak, who had won in front of her home country fans. Two British throwers, Fatima Whitbread and Tessa Sanderson, were also among the world’s top javelinists. Whitbread was the runner-up in 1983 at Helsinki, while the bronze medalist at the Worlds was another woman competing in Los Angeles, Anna Verouli of Greece, who had also won the 1982 European Championships. In round one, Sanderson took the lead with 69.56 (228-23) and that would hold up for the gold medal. Lillak recorded 69.00 (226-41) in the second round despite a foot injury that caused her to pass her last four throws, but that was good enough for silver.

Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1980 Moscow	María Caridad Colón 68.40m		Saida Gunba 67.76m		Ute Hommola 66.56m

For a women’s field throwing event, this was the only one on which the American-led boycott had any effect. Kate Schmidt (USA) had won bronze medals in 1972 and 1976 and late in 1977 had broken the world record. But Ruth Fuchs regained that record in 1979 and broke it again early in 1980. She had been world-ranked #1 every year from 1972-79 and was an overwhelming favorite to win her third consecutive gold medal in Moskva. But it was not to be. She was never in contention for a medal, barely qualified for the final three throws, and eventually finished eighth. In round one, the lead was taken by María Colón (CUB), the 1979 Pan-American champion, with 68.40 (224-5). That mark would hold up for the gold medal. The other medalists were equally unlikely, with silver medalist Saida Gunba (URS/GEO) and bronze medalist Ute Hommola (GDR) standing on the medal podium for the first time at a major event.

Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1976 Montreal	Ruth Fuchs 65.94m OR		Marion Becker 64.70m		Kate Schmidt 63.96m

Ruth Fuchs was by now the heavy favorite. She was the defending champion, 1974 European Champion, multiple world-record holder, and would be voted by _Track & Field News_ as the female athlete of the decade for the 1970s. She was solid in 1976 as well, breaking the world record in the month prior to Montréal. And she ended the competition early in the final, throwing 65.94 (216-41) in the first round, which would be the best throw of the event. Kate Schmidt, bronze medalist from 1972, struggled to make the final three throws, fouling on her first two attempts, but she repeated her third-place finish from München. West Germany’s Marion Becker won the silver medal with 64.70 (212-31) thrown in round three, after which she fouled three times.

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1972 Munich	Ruth Fuchs 63.88m OR		Jacqueline Todten 62.54m		Kate Schmidt 59.94m

In 1971 Ruth Fuchs (GDR) finished third at the European Championships. On 11 June 1972, Poland’s Ewa Gryziecka broke the javelin world record with 62.70 (205-81), only to have Fuchs surpass that on the same day with 65.06 (213-51). Fuchs would better that record in 1973, 1974, and 1976. But already in 1972 she was a strong favorite and led the qualifying in München. The lead was taken in round one by America’s Kate Schmidt with 59.94 (196-8) which would be her best throw and would bring her a bronze medal. Fuchs took the lead in round two with 60.20 (197-61), which was good enough for the gold medal, but she would surpass that twice in rounds four and five. In the final round, Jacqueline Todten moved into second place with 62.54 (205-21).

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1968 Mexico City	Angéla Németh 60.36m		Mihaela Peneş 59.92m		Eva Janko 58.04m

The defending champion, Mihaela Peneş, was back. She had finished second at the 1966 European Championships behind the GDR’s Marion Lüttge. In round one Peneş produced her best throw since her 1964 gold medal mark with 59.92 (196-71) and took the lead. But Hungary’s Angéla Németh threw a PR of 60.36 (198-01) in round two to overtake her and secure the gold medal with that throw.

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1964 Tokyo	Mihaela Peneş 60.54m OR		Márta Rudas 58.27m		Elena Gorchakova 57.06m

Defending champion Elvira Ozolina (URS) was a heavy favorite. She had set the last three world records and won the 1962 European Championships. But in the qualifying round Soviet teammate Yelena Gorchakova unleashed a world record throw of 62.40 (204-83), the first ratified mark of over 200 feet (Ozoli?a had an unratified mark of 61.38 201-41 earlier in the year). But neither would win the gold medal. In round one Romania’s 17-year-old [Mihaela Peneş] bettered her personal best by four metres with 60.54 and that held up for the world record. Gorchakova was able to hold on for bronze, but Ozoli?a finished only fifth. She was so distraught that she went to the Olympic Village hair stylist and demanded that she shave her head. When the hairdresser refused she took the clippers and began to shave her head herself, and walked around the village for the rest of the Games virtually bald, exposing her shame at her poor performance.

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1960 Rome	Elvira Ozolina 55.98m OR		Dana Ingrová 53.78m		Birute Kalediene 53.45m

Elvira Ozolina had been the javelin leader throughout 1960, with two world records set in May and June 1960. Lithuanian Birute Kalediene had set a world record in 1958 and was silver medalist at the European Championships that year. They finished first and third with Ozolina’s gold medal mark coming in the first round. Silver medalist Dana Zátopková had been the 1952 gold medalist, 1954 and 1958 European Champion, and a world record setter in 1958.

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1956 Melbourne	Inese Yaunzeme 53.86m		Marlene Ahrens 50.38m		Nadezhda Konyayeva50.28m

The first and second places in Melbourne were big surprises. Soviet Latvian Inese Jaunzeme had no major record and her best finish at the Soviet Championships was third in 1956. But she dominated the 1956 Olympic competition, leading after her first throw, and never relinguishing the lead. She improved to 53.40 (175-21) in round four and her best mark of 53.86 (176-81) came in the final round, with four of her throws good enough for the gold medal. Silver medalist Marlene Ahrens of Chile also had no international record to that date. She remains the only Chilean female to win an Olympic medal – in any sport through 2008. She would later win gold medals at the 1959 and 1963 Pan-American Games in the javelin.

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1952 Helsinki	Dana Zátopková 50.47m		Aleksandra Chudina 50.01m		Telena Gorchakova 49.76m

The Soviet threesome of Aleksandra Chudina, Yelena Gorchakova, and Galina Zybina led the year lists, with Zybina, primarily a shot putter/discus thrower, having won bronze at the 1950 European Championships. Chudina was known as a multi-event athlete, but the women’s pentathlon was not an Olympic event until 1964. In round one, Czech Dana Zátopková opened with a PR of 50.47 (165-7) which would win her the gold medal, the three Soviets taking second thru fourth. Shortly before she won her gold medal, Zatopková’s husband, Emil Zátopek, won the 5,000 metres, and would win three distance running gold medals in Helsinki – 5K, 10K, and marathon. Dana Zatopková would set one world javelin record, 55.73 (182-101) in 1958 and won the European Championships in 1954 and 1958.

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1948 London	Herma Bauma 45.57m OR		Kaisa Parviainen 43.79m		Lily Carlstedt 42.08m

As with the other women's throwing events in London, the Soviet women were sorely missed. Judging by the year's best marks, they could have swept the medals, likely led by Klavdiya Mayuchaya. She had won the 1946 European title, and crossed the 50-metre-barrier in 1947 (although not recognized as a World Record). Fortunately, the best non-Soviet javelin thrower was in London, and she would win the event. Later in the season, Herma Bauma would break the World Record, although her 48.63 (159-63) was short of Mayuchaya's distances. Bauma had already competed in the 1936 Olympics, narrowly missing the bronze medal, but was the class of the field in 1948. As of 2008, her gold medal is still Austria's only Olympic title in track and field.

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1936 Berlin	Tilly Fleischer 45.18m OR		Luise Krüger 43.29m		Maria Kwaśniewska 41.80m

The leading throwers in early 1936 were Austrian Herma Bauma, and Germans Luise Krüger and Lisa Gelius, although she was not chosen for the German team. The first round leader in Berlin was Maria Maria Kwaśniewska (POL) with 41.80 (137-13). Fleischer took over in the second round with a mark that would have won the gold medal (44.69 (146-71)), although she surpassed it in round five with 45.18 (148-23). Krüger’s silver medal was sealed in round three with 43.29 (142-01). Bauma placed fourth but would return in 1948 to win gold and also set two world records in 1947-48.

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Games	Gold		Silver		Bronze
1932 Los Angeles	Babe Didrikson 43.69m		Ellen Braumüller 43.50m		Tilly Fleischer 43.01m

The Germans were the early leaders in this event with Liesel Schumann winning the 1930 FSFI Women’s World Games, and Ellen Braumüller setting three world records from 1930-32. In June 1932, American Nan Gindele broke the world record, throwing 46.745 (153-4) at the Central AAU Championships. But she was not considered the best American, that role falling to Babe Didrikson who had won the AAU title in 1930 and 1932, and also the baseball throw consecutively from 1930-32, with her 1931 winning mark of 296-0 (90.22) still considered the women’s world record in that now rarely contested event. Didrikson was considered the greatest female athlete in the world, and she would dominate the 1932 Olympics athletics, winning two gold and one silver medal. Her first event was the javelin and she came thru to win with her first round throw of 43.68 (143-33). Braumüller was a close second with her teammates, Tilly Fleischer winning bronze. Gindele was a non-competitive fifth.

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souce: sports-reference.com, wikipedia