Jan Železný facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jan Železný

Železný in 2015
Personal information
Nationality	Czech
Born	(1966-06-16) 16 June 1966 (age 59) Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	86 kg (190 lb; 13.5 st)
Sport
Country	Czechoslovakia (1987–1992) Czech Republic (1993–2006)
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Javelin throw
Turned pro	1986
Retired	2006
Now coaching	Neeraj Chopra
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	WR 98.48 m (1996)
Medal record Men's athletics Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 3 1 0 World Championships 3 0 2 European Championships 0 0 2 Total 6 1 4 Representing  Czechoslovakia Olympic Games Gold 1992 Barcelona Javelin Silver 1988 Seoul Javelin World Championships Bronze 1987 Rome Javelin Representing  Czech Republic Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta Javelin Gold 2000 Sydney Javelin World Championships Gold 1993 Stuttgart Javelin Gold 1995 Gothenburg Javelin Gold 2001 Edmonton Javelin Bronze 1999 Seville Javelin Goodwill Games Gold 2001 Brisbane Javelin throw  European Championships Bronze 1994 Helsinki Javelin Bronze 2006 Gothenburg Javelin
Updated on 6 July 2012.

Jan Železný is a famous Czech athlete who used to compete in the javelin throw. He is known as one of the greatest javelin throwers ever. He holds the world record for the longest throw, which is an amazing 98.48 meters (about 323 feet). He has won many Olympic and World Championship titles.

Jan Železný's Early Life and Career

Jan Železný was born on June 16, 1966, in Mladá Boleslav, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. He started his amazing career by winning a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics.

Olympic and World Championship Wins

Jan Železný became an Olympic champion three times. He won gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He also won three World Championship titles in 1993, 1995, and 2001.

Setting World Records

Jan Železný set the current world record in javelin throw with a distance of 98.48 meters in 1996. He also holds the World Championships record with a throw of 92.80 meters, set in 2001. He was the first athlete to throw over 95 meters with the modern javelin. In one competition in 1997, he threw over 90 meters five times!

Famous Rivalries

During his career, Jan Železný had exciting competitions with other top javelin throwers. Some of his well-known rivals included Steve Backley, Sergey Makarov, and Aki Parviainen. These rivalries made the sport even more thrilling for fans.

Retirement and Coaching

Jan Železný decided to retire after the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg, where he won a bronze medal. He officially ended his career on September 19, 2006, with a special event in his hometown of Mladá Boleslav. After retiring, he became a coach. He has coached other successful javelin throwers like Vítězslav Veselý and Barbora Špotáková.

A Tryout in Baseball

After winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, Jan Železný had a unique experience. He tried out as a baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves team. Even though he had no baseball experience, both he and the team took the tryout seriously.

Jan Železný's International Competitions

Jan Železný competed in many important international events throughout his career. Here are some of his major achievements:

See also

In Spanish: Jan Železný para niños

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event