Jan Železný holds the men’s javelin world record with a throw of 98.48 metres.
Železný set the record in Jena, Germany, on 25 May 1996. The Czech thrower produced the mark during a period when he dominated international javelin, combining exceptional speed, technique and release mechanics.
He won Olympic gold at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, making him the only athlete to win three Olympic javelin titles. He also earned silver at Seoul 1988 and won the World Championships in 1993, 1995 and 2001.
The present javelin specification was introduced for men in 1986, when the centre of gravity was moved forward to shorten throws and improve landing reliability. Records before that equipment change belong to an earlier technical era and are not directly comparable.