The hammer throw is a track and field event that involves a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and spun around by the athlete before being released. The spelling of "hammer throw" is phonetically represented as /ˈhæmər ˌθroʊ/. The first syllable, "ham", is pronounced with a short 'a' sound followed by an 'm' sound. The second syllable, "mer", has a short 'e' sound followed by an 'r' sound. The final syllable, "throw", is pronounced with a long 'o' sound followed by a 'th' and 'r' sound.
Hammer throw is a field event in athletics that involves throwing a heavy metal ball attached to a wire or a steel chain, commonly known as the hammer. The athlete's objective is to generate maximum distance by swinging the hammer around their head and releasing it at peak velocity. Hammer throw is considered a throwing event, falling under the category of "heavy athletics."
The implement used in hammer throw typically consists of a spherical metal ball, weighing 7.26 kilograms (16 pounds) for men and 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds) for women, which is connected to a wire or chain attached to a grip. A throwing circle is marked on the ground, and the athlete stands within this circle to commence their throw.
The hammer is swung around the athlete's head using a series of rotations while they pivot within the throwing circle. Once the desired momentum is achieved, the athlete swiftly releases the hammer at an appropriate angle to project it as far as possible. Both power and technique play crucial roles in hammer throw, as athletes need to maximize their strength while maintaining control and balance.
Hammer throw is considered a highly technical and demanding event, requiring strength, agility, and precision. It originated from the ancient Celtic sport of "caber tossing" and has been a part of the modern Olympic Games since 1900. Aside from its competitive aspect, hammer throw is also practiced in training to develop overall strength, core stability, and explosive power.
The word hammer throw comes from the sport of throwing a heavy spherical object (resembling a hammer) as part of athletic competitions. The etymology traces back to the Old English word hamor (or hamer) which means a tool with a heavy metal head, used for driving nails, breaking rocks, or forging metals. The word can be traced further back to Old Norse hamarr, which has the same meaning. Over time, hammer became associated with the heavy throwing implement used in the sport, leading to the term hammer throw.