# Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics – Men's javelin throw

The men's javelin throw was a track and field athletics event held as part of the athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the second appearance of the event, but in 1908 it was a standing throw with no run up. The competition was held on Saturday, July 6, 1912. Twenty-five javelin throwers from seven nations competed. NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes.

## Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in metres) prior to the 1912 Summer Olympics.
| World Record | 61.45(*) | Julius Saaristo | Helsinki (FIN) | May 25, 1912 |
| Olympic Record | 54.83 | Eric Lemming | London (GBR) | July 17, 1908 |
(*) unofficial
Julius Saaristo set at first a new Olympic record with 55.37 m. Eric Lemming improved the record to 57.42 m and finally to 60.64 m. Three days later on July 9, 1912 Julius Saaristo set a new Olympic record in the two handed javelin throw competition with 61.00 m.

## Results

Saaristo took the lead after the first throw, and made an even better second throw to stay ahead of Lemming. On the third throw, however, Saaristo scratched and Lemming threw his javelin well over 57 metres to take the lead going into the finals, with Kóczán wresting third place from Halme on the final throw to advance as well. While each of the three finalists made improvements in their marks in the final round, no changes in order were made and Lemming's 60.64 metres stood as the new record.
| Place | Athlete | Preliminary | Preliminary | Preliminary | Preliminary | Final | Final | Final | Best mark |
| Place | Athlete | 1 | 2 | 3 | Rank | 4 | 5 | 6 | Best mark |
| 1 | Eric Lemming (SWE) | 53.02 | 54.78 | 57.42 OR | 1st | 60.64 OR | — | 59.00 | 60.64 |
| 2 | Julius Saaristo (FIN) | 54.75 | 55.37 OR | — | 2nd | 56.21 | — | 58.66 | 58.66 |
| 3 | Mór Kóczán (HUN) | 54.06 | — | 54.99 | 3rd | — | — | 55.50 | 55.50 |
| 4 | Johan Halme (FIN) | 53.81 | 54.65 | — | 4th | | | | 54.65 |
| 5 | Väinö Siikaniemi (FIN) | 52.19 | — | 52.43 | 5th | | | | 52.43 |
| 6 | Richard Åbrink (SWE) | 46.56 | 48.25 | 52.20 | 6th | | | | 52.20 |
| 7 | Arne Halse (NOR) | 51.98 | — | — | 7th | | | | 51.98 |
| 8 | Jonni Myyrä (FIN) | 48.77 | 51.33 | — | 8th | | | | 51.33 |
| 9 | Urho Peltonen (FIN) | 49.20 | — | — | 9th | | | | 49.20 |
| 10 | Otto Nilsson (SWE) | 47.59 | 48.01 | 49.18 | 10th | | | | 49.18 |
| 11 | Karl Sonne (SWE) | — | 47.85 | — | 11th | | | | 47.85 |
| 12 | Daniel Johansen (NOR) | 46.18 | 46.87 | 47.61 | 12th | | | | 47.61 |
| 13 | Svante Olsson (SWE) | 46.94 | — | — | 13th | | | | 46.94 |
| 14 | Anders Krigsman (SWE) | 45.14 | 45.48 | 46.71 | 14th | | | | 46.71 |
| 15 | Janne Dahl (SWE) | — | 44.09 | 45.67 | 15th | | | | 45.67 |
| 16 | Arvid Ohrling (SWE) | 45.00 | 45.32 | — | 16th | | | | 45.32 |
| 17 | Nikolay Neklapaev (RUS) | — | 44.78 | 44.98 | 17th | | | | 44.98 |
| 18 | Emil Kukko (FIN) | 44.50 | — | 44.66 | 18th | | | | 44.66 |
| 19 | Josef Waitzer (GER) | 41.99 | 43.20 | 43.71 | 19th | | | | 43.71 |
| 20 | Nikolajs Švedrēvics (RUS) | — | 43.21 | — | 20th | | | | 43.21 |
| 21 | Algot Larsson (SWE) | 43.18 | — | — | 21st | | | | 43.18 |
| 22 | Karl Halt (GER) | — | 41.99 | — | 22nd | | | | 41.99 |
| 23 | Paul Willführ (GER) | 41.05 | — | — | 23rd | | | | 41.05 |
| 24 | Eskil Falk (SWE) | — | — | — | 24th | | | | None |
| 24 | Gustav Krojer (AUT) | — | — | — | 24th | | | | None |