Sport: Javelin Made Easy

• Share

In unnumbered undershirt and baggy slacks, the pudgy, 49-year-old Spaniard looked more like a masseur than an ath lete. Felix Erauzquin picked up a javelin, held it behind his back, spun around twice, and let it go. The javelin traveled 273 ft. 6 in.-only nf in. short of the world's record.

All over Europe last week, javelin-throwers were trying Erauzquin's new technique. Results were phenomenal. Training with the Finnish Olympic team, 26-year-old Antti Seppala got off a 270-ft. toss. In France, 165-ft. javelin-throwers hit 230 ft. At week's end Norwegian Egil Danielsen repaired to a field (the local stadium was too small), whirled three times, and flung the javelin 304 ft. 1.68 in., nearly 30 ft. farther than the world's record of 274 ft. 5¾ in. claimed by Poland's Janusz Sidlo.

Major problem of the new technique: nobody can control the javelin's direction. Around and around it goes, and where it lands, nobody knows. No spectator is safe. Other javelineers are outraged. Said Czech Olympic Star Dana Zatopekova: "If this method is accepted, I will personally break my javelin and use it as supports for tomato plants." So far, the Olympic authorities have been too amazed to pronounce final judgment. But as of now nobody can find anything in the rules against it.