Women Javelin Throw Athletics XV Olympic Games Helsinki, Finland 1952 - Thursday 24 July - Gold Medal: Dana Zatopkova, Czechoslovakia
Venue: Helsingin Olympiastadion. Capp.: 70,000. world Women Javelin Throw History. 21 competitors from 13 nations.
Final 16:45
Distance
Y
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1. Dana Zatopkova
TCH
50.47m OR
29
50.47
41.34
46.28
43.45
45.62
47.63
2. Aleksandra Tshudina
URS
50.01m
28
46.71
45.20
47.52
X
49.61
50.01
3. Elena Gortshakova
URS
49.76m
19
46.67
49.76
48.27
45.28
43.10
43.28
4. Galina Zibina
URS
48.35m
21
44.86
48.35
47.24
47.94
47.81
45.95
5. Lilly Kelsby
DEN
46.23m
26
46.23
40.90
45.03
42.38
44.82
44.77
6. Marlis Muller
GER
44.37m
25
X
44.37
X
43.21
X
43.08
eliminated after 3 attempts
7. Maria Ciach
POL
44.31m
18
42.55
43.53
44.31
8. Jutta Kruger
GER
44.30m
19
44.30
42.17
41.77
9. Herma Bauma
AUT
42.54m
37
42.54
42.27
41.13
10.Estrella Puente
URU
41.44m
23
39.41
41.44
11.Ada Turci
ITA
41.20m
28
41.15
41.20
40.03
12.Ingeborg Bausenwein
GER
41.16m
31
41.16
39.60
39.55
13.Marjorie Larney
USA
40.58m
15
X
40.58
36.04
14.Anni Rättyä
FIN
40.56m
18
40.33
38.85
40.56
15.Diane Coates
GBR
40.17m
20
40.17
39.28
38.55
16.Kaisa Parviainen
FIN
39.82m
37
38.03
39.82
X
17.Elsa Torikka
FIN
39.58m
21
39.58
X
36.73
The three Russians topped the pre-Olympic lists ahead of Zátopková.
The Czech had married Emil Zátopek in 1949, and shared two strong
ties – both were born on the same day (September 19, 1922), and both
won Olympic gold medals on July 24, 1952. After Chudina led the
qualifiers with 46.23, Zátopková opened in the final with her winning
throw, a personal best of 50.47. The three Russians filled the next three
positions, with Chudina, the finest multi-events athlete of the 1950s,
moving from bronze medal position to second place with her final
throw of 50.01.
Finland’s greatest thrower Matti Järvinen stated after the event that
Zátopková was the best technician of the event on view at the Helsinki
Games.
World Record: Natalya Smirtnitskaya, Soviet Union 53.41m Moscow 1949. Olympic Record: Herma Bauma, Austria 45.57m London 31.07.1948.