How do you successfully bet on the Javelin?

The exciting Olympic Javelin showdown between India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem was one of the most exciting field events of Paris 2024. 

So much so that the battle between these two Javelin superstars from the sub-continent was one of the most appealing for bettors.

With that in mind, and with little information available on how best to bet on Javelin, our team of experts has pooled their knowledge and resources to give you our guide to betting more successfully on any major Javelin competition in the world. 

Let’s begin by taking a closer look at this most dynamic of all athletics field events. 

What is the Javelin?

The Javelin is one of the oldest events still part of the modern Olympics. Its origins lie not in sport but in hunting and fighting. The first Paleolithic foragers and hunters in various parts of the world used spears to hunt animals. Spears could also be thrown as weapons against enemies in combat. 

It was incredibly effective as a weapon and hunting tool. Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Gauls, Iberians, Numidians, Norse, Anglo-Saxons, and the Chinese all developed their own variation. The spears were refined and designed instead to be thrown. 

Throwing the javelin was also used as a form of early competition, where competitors would compete to throw the javelin the furthest. Whoever threw the javelin the furthest would win provided that it landed front-point first on the ground, within the agreed throwing area.

The javelin as a sport has changed incredibly little since then, although the javelin itself has undergone many different iterations. 

It was a part of the ancient Olympic Games and when the modern games were founded in the late 19th century. It has remained a track and field event ever since.

However, due to technological advances, and the ability of the best javelin throwers to throw increasing distances, the javelin has had to be redesigned. Chiefly because the best throwers were in danger of being able to throw longer than the distance of the standard javelin field.

Czech Javelin legend Jan Zelensky holds the world record with a throw of 98.48 metres, set in 1996. This was before the modern javelin was introduced.

Even with these changes, current javelin superstars like Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem can still throw the new javelin over 80 metres. 

In addition to standalone javelin events for men and women, the javelin is also a part of the women’s heptathlon and the men’s decathlon. 

When are the big Javelin sports tournaments?

If you are looking to bet on the javelin then you should focus on the meetings where the Javelin will be one of the main field events. While a key part of most track and field meetings, the best events to target when betting are as follows:

Annual Events

• Diamond League Meetings (15 one-day meetings held each year)
• World Athletics Continental Tour

Biennial Events

• World Athletics Championships
• European Athletics Championships
• Asian Athletics Championships

Quadrennial Events

• The Olympic Games
• Commonwealth Games
• Pacific Conference Games
• Asian Games

What betting markets are likely to be available when betting on the Javelin?

When it comes to betting on the Javelin, there are two common betting markets available with bookmakers.

They are:

• Betting on the winner of the javelin competition.
• Betting on who will finish in the top 3 of the javelin competition.

There is scope for bookmakers to offer more betting markets on the javelin. Such as whether the javelin world record will be broken, whether the winning throw will be over or under a stated distance etc.

However, the vast majority of bets on the javelin in the major tournaments are on which thrower will win the event.

Five Key Tips to Back a Better Javelin Bet

Form is Key

Whether a competitor is in good form or bad form is hugely relevant in athletics events and the javelin is no different. If a javelin competitor enters an event in great form, then they are likely to throw well and the opposite is true for those throwers out of form. 

Analyse the Field

The strength of depth in a javelin field will play an important role in determining the odds on those likely to win the event. The stronger the field, then the better value the odds are likely to be on the winner bet, simply because more athletes could win the event.

Account for the Weather

Some athletes will find throwing the javelin in unusual weather conditions such as rain, colder weather, windier weather etc far more challenging. It is wise to check the weather conditions before an event to get an idea of what they will be like and then deciding whether that will impact the performance of the competitor you intend to back. 

Research your bet

Finding our more about the athlete you intend to back, and their rivals, is a good way to inform your bet. Even just some minor research can help you make a better choice when it comes to betting on the javelin. 

Have realistic expectations

The odds of a winner of a major javelin tournament coming from throwers of odds of 20/1 or greater, are very slim. The best javelin throwers in the world tend to dominate the events they compete in. So you need to adjust your expectations for returns from these events. Remember, an even-money winner is better than a 20/1 loser!

Who are some of the most famous past and present Javelin superstars?

Some of the stars of the javelin past and present include:

Past Javelin Legends

Men

• Eric Lemming (SWE)
• Jonni Myyra (FIN)
• Janis Lusis (RUS)
• Jan Zelezny (CZE)
• Steve Backley (GBR)
• Seppo Raty (FIN)
• Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR)

Women

• Ruth Fuchs (GER)
• Tessa Sanderson (GBR)
• Tiina Lillak (FIN)
• Fatima Whitbread (GBR)
• Petra Felke (GER)
• Trine Hattestad (NOR)
• Osleidys Menendez (CUB)
• Barbora Spotakova (CZE)

Current Javelin Superstars

Men

• Arshad Nadeem (PAK)
• Neeraj Chopra (IND)
• Thomas Rohler (GER)
• Keshorn Walcott (T&T)
• Vitezslav Vesely (CZE)
• Anderson Peters (GRN)
• Julius Yego (KEN)
• Jakub Vadlejch (CZE)

Women

• Haruka Kitaguchi (JAP)
• Jo-Ane van Dyk (SAF)
• Nikola Ogrodnikova (CZE)
• Liu Shiying (CHN)
• Maria Andrejczyk (POL)
• Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS)
• Sara Colak (CRO)