# Men's javelin throw world record progression

The first world record in the men's javelin throw was recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912.
As of 21 June 2009, 46 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event. New specifications for the javelin were introduced in 1986, and javelins with serrated tails were banned in 1991 which had the effect of reverting to an earlier record set in 1990.

## Record progression

| Mark | Athlete | Date | Location |
| 62.32 | Eric Lemming (SWE) | 29 September 1912 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 66.10 | Jonni Myyrä (FIN) | 25 August 1919 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 66.62 | Gunnar Lindström (SWE) | 12 October 1924 | Eksjö, Sweden |
| 69.88 | Eino Penttilä (FIN) | 8 October 1927 | Viipuri, Finland |
| 71.01 | Erik Lundqvist (SWE) | 15 August 1928 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 71.57 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 8 August 1930 | Viipuri, Finland |
| 71.70 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 17 August 1930 | Tampere, Finland |
| 71.88 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 31 August 1930 | Vaasa, Finland |
| 72.93 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 14 September 1930 | Viipuri, Finland |
| 74.02 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 27 June 1932 | Turku, Finland |
| 74.28 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 25 May 1933 | Mikkeli, Finland |
| 74.61 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 7 June 1933 | Vaasa, Finland |
| 76.10 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 15 June 1933 | Helsinki, Finland |
| 76.66 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 7 September 1934 | Turin, Italy |
| 77.23 | Matti Järvinen (FIN) | 18 June 1936 | Helsinki, Finland |
| 77.87 | Yrjö Nikkanen (FIN) | 25 August 1938 | Karhula, Finland |
| 78.70 | Yrjö Nikkanen (FIN) | 16 October 1938 | Kotka, Finland |
| 80.41 | Bud Held (USA) | 8 August 1953 | Pasadena, CA, United States |
| 81.75 | Bud Held (USA) | 21 May 1955 | Modesto, CA, United States |
| 83.56 | Soini Nikkinen (FIN) | 24 June 1956 | Kuhmoinen, Finland |
| 83.66 | Janusz Sidło (POL) | 30 June 1956 | Milan, Italy |
| 85.71 | Egil Danielsen (NOR) | 26 November 1956 | Melbourne |
| 86.04 | Albert Cantello (USA) | 5 June 1959 | Compton, CA, United States |
| 86.74 | Carlo Lievore (ITA) | 1 June 1961 | Milan, Italy |
| 87.12 | Terje Pedersen (NOR) | 1 July 1964 | Oslo, Norway |
| 91.72 | Terje Pedersen (NOR) | 2 September 1964 | Oslo, Norway |
| 91.98 | Jānis Lūsis (URS) | 23 June 1968 | Saarijärvi, Finland |
| 92.70 | Jorma Kinnunen (FIN) | 18 June 1969 | Tampere, Finland |
| 93.80 | Jānis Lūsis (URS) | 6 July 1972 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 94.08 | Klaus Wolfermann (FRG) | 5 May 1973 | Leverkusen, West Germany |
| 94.58 | Miklós Németh (HUN) | 25 July 1976 | Montreal, Canada |
| 96.72 | Ferenc Paragi (HUN) | 23 April 1980 | Tata, Hungary |
| 99.72 | Tom Petranoff (USA) | 15 May 1983 | Los Angeles, United States |
| 104.80 | Uwe Hohn (GDR) | 20 July 1984 | East Berlin, East Germany |
New specifications were introduced in 1986.
| Mark | Athlete | Date | Location |
| 85.74 | Klaus Tafelmeier (FRG) | 21 September 1986 | Como, Italy |
| 87.66 | Jan Železný (TCH) | 31 May 1987 | Nitra, Czechoslovakia |
| 89.10 | Patrik Bodén (SWE) | 24 March 1990 | Austin, United States |
| 89.58 | Steve Backley (GBR) | 2 July 1990 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 89.66 * | Jan Železný (TCH) | 14 July 1990 | Oslo, Norway |
| 90.98 * | Steve Backley (GBR) | 20 July 1990 | London, England |
| 91.98 * | Seppo Räty (FIN) | 6 May 1991 | Shizuoka, Japan |
| 96.96 * | Seppo Räty (FIN) | 2 June 1991 | Punkalaidun, Finland |
* achieved using Németh model (serrated tail)
Javelins with serrated tails were outlawed by the IAAF in Tokyo in August 1991 at the IAAF-Congress; several of the above records were rescinded as from 20 September 1991, and the record reverted to Steve Backley's 89.58, the longest throw with the regular new implement (as of 1986).
| Mark | Athlete | Date | Location | Duration of record |
| 89.58 | Steve Backley (GBR) | 2 July 1990 | Stockholm, Sweden | 1 year, 6 months and 23 days |
| 91.46 | Steve Backley (GBR) | 25 January 1992 | North Shore City, New Zealand | 1 year, 2 months and 12 days |
| 95.54 | Jan Železný (CZE) | 6 April 1993 | Pietersburg, South Africa | 4 months and 23 days |
| 95.66 | Jan Železný (CZE) | 29 August 1993 | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 2 years, 8 months and 26 days |
| 98.48 | Jan Železný (CZE) | 25 May 1996 | Jena, Germany | 28 years, 4 months |