The strain and magic behind 90m throws

The flight of the javelin has always captivated the imagination of fans. Only 26 throwers in the world have ever crossed the magical 90 metre mark. Neeraj Chopra achieved the feat earlier this year. Those who have reached this landmark, speak of the immense physical toll it takes on the body and why maintaining such a high level is difficult.

- Avishek Roy

Thomas Rohler, the 2016 Olympic Champion, has breached the mark multiple times, and compares the impact with the weight of a small car on the body. “Any 90m throw has a huge impact on the body. So, once you throw 90m, the next thing you need to do is to take rest because the impact is so high. We need to understand that the impact is like the weight of one one-ton small car on the block foot,” said Rohler. “Doing it again and again is a mental challenge besides dealing with the pressure from outside.”