What is the men's javelin throw world record? Full list of highest throws

The world record for the javelin throw is held by Jan Železný of the Czech Republic with a phenomenal distance of 98.48 metres, set in 1996.

Top 20 throws in javelin throw events history
Top 20 throws in javelin throw events history
Anish Kumar New Delhi
4 min read Last Updated : May 17 2025 | 6:20 AM IST

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Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian athlete to cross the 90-metre mark in the javelin throw event, achieving the milestone at the 2025 Doha Diamond League with a throw of 90.23 metres. This was the first time the 27-year-old had breached the 90-metre mark in his javelin career.
 
Neeraj had previously won the gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics—held a year later due to the COVID-19 pandemic—with a throw of 87.58 metres.
 
While in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Neeraj came second with a throw of 89.45 metres and won the silver medal.
 
Interestingly, Neeraj has been training under Jan Železný, the current world record holder in the javelin throw. 

Javelin throw records and rankings in Athletics

  Who holds the world record for the longest javelin throw? 
The world record for the javelin throw is held by Jan Železný of the Czech Republic with a phenomenal distance of 98.48 metres, set in 1996.
 
Who are the top five javelin throwers in history based on best throws?
  As of now, the top five all-time best javelin throws are:
 
  • Jan Zelezny (CZE) – 98.48m
  • Johannes Vetter (GER) – 97.76m
  • Thomas Röhler (GER) – 93.90m
  • Aki Parviainen (FIN) – 93.09m
  • Anderson Peters (GRN) – 93.03m
 
Where does Neeraj Chopra rank among the best javelin throwers in history?
  India’s Neeraj Chopra currently ranks 24th on the all-time list of best javelin throws with a personal best of 90.23 metres, achieved at the Doha Diamond League 2025.
 
How many athletes have thrown over 90 metres in javelin history? 
A total of 26 athletes have crossed the 90-metre mark in the history of men’s javelin throw. This feat is considered a benchmark of elite performance in the sport.
 
Is Julian Weber among the top 20 javelin throwers ever?
  Yes, Julian Weber of Germany ranks 17th on the all-time list with a best throw of 91.06 metres.
 
Which countries dominate the javelin throw historically? 
Historically, countries like Germany, Finland, and the Czech Republic have produced some of the best javelin throwers. Notably, Germany has multiple throwers in the top 10 including Johannes Vetter, Thomas Röhler, and Raymond Hecht.  Top five Neeraj Chopra's best throws in javelin throw events
 
Who is the highest-ranked Asian javelin thrower?
  Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan holds the highest javelin throw by an Asian athlete with a distance of 92.97 metres, placing him 6th on the all-time list.
 
What is considered an elite javelin throw distance in men’s athletics? 
Any throw above 90 metres is regarded as elite in men’s javelin. It typically places an athlete among the top in the world and historically among the best ever.
 
Are there active athletes still achieving 90m+ throws today? 
Yes, several current athletes—including Neeraj Chopra, Julian Weber, Jakub Vadlejch, and Max Dehning—have all recorded throws beyond 90 metres in recent competitions.
 
Javelin throw best throws world records
Rank Athlete Country Best Throw (m)
1 Jan Zelezny CZE 98.48
2 Johannes Vetter GER 97.76
3 Thomas Rohler GER 93.9
4 Aki Parviainen FIN 93.09
5 Andersen Peters GRE 93.03
6 Arshad Nadeem PAK 92.97
7 Julius Yego KEN 92.72
8 Sergey Makarov RUS 92.61
9 Raymond Hecht GER 92.6
10 Andreas Hoffman GER 92.06
11 Konstantinos Gatsioudis GRE 91.69
12 Andreas Thorkildsen NOR 91.59
13 Tero Pitkamaki FIN 91.53
14 Steve Backley GBR 91.46
15 Chao-Tsun Cheng TPE 91.36
16 Breaux Greer USA 91.29
17 Julian Weber GER 91.06
18 Jakub Vadlejch CZE 90.88
19 Kimmo Kinnunen FIN 90.82
20 Vadims Vasilevskis LAT 90.73
21 Magnus Kirt EST 90.61
22 Seppo Raty FIN 90.6
23 Boris Henry GER 90.44
24 Neeraj Chopra IND 90.23
25 Max Dehning GER 90.2
26 Keshorn Walcott TTO 90.16
 
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Topics :Neeraj Chopraathletics

First Published: May 17 2025 | 6:20 AM IST

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