The hammer throw, one of the most unusual events in the 2012 Summer Games, is a lot like a particle accelerator. For those who may not be familiar with the hammer throw, here’s a quick rundown:
- The goal is to throw a steel ball, attached to the end of a long cable, as far as you can.
- Men throw a 16-pound ball affixed to a cable that’s 3 feet, 11.75 inches long.
- Women throw an 8.82-pound ball affixed to a cable that’s 3 feet, 11 inches long.
- Competitors stand in a circle 2.12 meters in diameter and swing the hammer, spinning one to four times before releasing it.
- The world record for men is 86.74 meters, set by Yuriy Sedykh in 1986. For women, the record is 79.42 meters, set last year by Betty Heidler.
via Wired
August 4, 2012
