The throws pentathlon also called the weight pentathlon is a
combined event in
track and field
Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a ru ...
. Like all
pentathlon
A pentathlon is a contest featuring five events. The name is derived from Greek language, Greek: combining the words ''pente'' (five) and -''athlon'' (competition) (). The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the Anci ...
events, it consists of five events; the four
Olympic throwing events
hammer throw
The hammer throw (HT for short) is one of the four throwing events in regular outdoor track-and-field competitions, along with the discus throw, shot put and Javelin throw, javelin.
The hammer used in this sport is not like any of the tools a ...
,
shot put
The shot put is a track-and-field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical Ball (sports), ball—the ''shot''—as far as possible. For men, the sport has been a part of the Olympic Games, modern Olympics since their 1896 Summer Olym ...
,
discus throw
The discus throw (), also known as disc throw, is a track and field sport in which the participant athlete throws an oblate spheroid weight (object), weight called a discus in an attempt to mark a further distance than other competitors. It is a ...
and
javelin throw, plus the
weight throw. Along with the Swedish
Castorama (which includes only the four Olympic throws), it is the only combined event composed entirely of
throwing events.
The event is a full World Championship event at the
World Masters Athletics Championships and
World Masters Athletics keeps
world records for the event. There are domestic competitions all over the world.
The oldest competitor to complete a throws pentathlon is
Ruth Frith at the age of 101 years, 7 months and 24 days.
Events
There is no difference between the events for either gender, however all gender and age division of
masters athletics
Masters Athletics managed by World Masters Athletics is a class of the sport of athletics (sport), athletics for athletes of 35 years of age and over organized by World Masters Athletics. The events include track and field, road running and cross ...
have different implement specifications, meaning older competitors and women throw lighter implements than younger men. Each athlete gets three attempts in each event, the best mark of each of those attempts is given performance points based on the age graded tables from World Masters Athletics. The current tables were modeled in 2010. Points calculators are available on line.
Ultraweight pentathlon
Similar to the throws pentathlon is the ultraweight pentathlon, consisting of events usually spun from a circle. It starts with the
Weight throw, then adds four more ultra weight throws increasing in size starting with the "Superweight throw."
[ The exact rules for these events have been specified in the United States but have not yet been adopted on a global basis.
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Throws Pentathlon
Combined track and field events
Throwing sports
Throwing