Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics – Men's hammer throw


The men's hammer throw was a track and field athletics event held as part of the athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fourth appearance of the event, which had been won all three previous times by John Flanagan. The competition was held on Sunday, July 14, 1912. Fourteen hammer throwers from four nations competed. NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1912 Summer Olympics.
World Record57.10' Matt McGrathNew York October 29, 1911
Olympic Record51.92 John FlanaganLondon July 14, 1908

' unofficial
Matt McGrath set a new Olympic record in the qualification with 54.13 metres and improved his record in the final with 54.74 metres.

Results

Flanagan, who had won all three prior editions of the Olympic hammer throw and held the Olympic record of 51.92 metres, had retired since the 1908 Olympic Games. McGrath took the gold medal, besting Flanagan's Olympic record with all four of his legal marks. No other thrower beat Flanagan's Olympic mark.