Influence of the Gender in the Javelin Throw, in Athletics’ High-Level Athletes

One of the four throwing events in track and field is the javelin throw, and its objective is to throw furthest as possible. Most of the literature has focused on correlating the results with the biomechanical parameters, but no study was found comparing high-level female athletes with male athletes. In this study, we aimed a javelin throw kinematic analysis (1) to correlate kinematic parameters with the result obtained and (2) to compare differences between male (M) and female (F) athletes. 32 high-level athletes were analyzed. Tridimensional kinematics analysis was performed using two high-speed cameras and a calibration volume were used. Normality, correlation, and comparison tests were applied. The obtained results suggest that release velocity is a determinant factor in achieving better results. Additionally, we identify some points of analysis to the coach, such as the impulse phase, power phase and greater amplitudes during the delivery and power phases. Lastly, differences between high-level male and female athletes were identified. Those who performed higher approach run velocity, longer pull distance and shorter pull time achieve high performances.