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.
