Editing Track and field (section)

====Hammer throw====
{{Main|Hammer throw}}
[[File:Yury Shayunou.JPG|thumb|[[Yury Shayunou]] spinning with the hammer within the circle in [[hammer throw]]]]
The earliest recorded precursors to the modern [[hammer throw]] stem from the [[Tailteann Games (ancient)|Tailteann Games]] of ancient Ireland, which featured events such as throwing either a weight attached to a rope, a large rock on a wooden handle, or even a [[chariot]] wheel on a wooden [[axle]].<ref name=AboutHT>{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=http://trackandfield.about.com/od/hammerthrow/ss/illushammer.htm |title=An Illustrated History of the Hammer Throw – The early days of the hammer throw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075436/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/hammerthrow/ss/illushammer.htm |archive-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=usurped |website=About |access-date=11 May 2010}}</ref> Other ancient competitions included throwing a cast iron ball attached to a wooden handle – the root of the term "hammer throw" due to their resemblance to the tools.<ref name=IAAFHT>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=9418.html Hammer Throw – Introduction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122194630/http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=9418.html |date=22 November 2011 }}. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 11 May 2010.</ref> In 16th century England, contests involving the throwing of actual [[blacksmith]]'s [[Sledgehammer]]s were recorded.<ref name=AboutHT /> The hammer implement was standardised in 1887 and the competitions began to resemble the modern event. The weight of the metal ball was set at {{convert|16|lb|kg}} while the attached wire had to measure between 1.175&nbsp;m and 1.215&nbsp;m.<ref name=IAAFHT />

The men's hammer throw became an Olympic event in 1900 but the women's event – using a {{convert|4|kg|lb|abbr=on}} weight – was not widely competed until much later, finally featuring on the women's Olympic programme in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=http://trackandfield.about.com/od/hammerthrow/ss/illushammer_3.htm |title=An Illustrated History of the Hammer Throw – Women's hammer time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075502/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/hammerthrow/ss/illushammer_3.htm |archive-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=usurped |website=About |access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref> The distances thrown by male athletes became greater from the 1950s onwards as a result of improved equipment using the denser metals, a switch to concrete throwing areas, and more advanced training techniques.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=http://trackandfield.about.com/od/hammerthrow/ss/illushammer_2.htm |title=An Illustrated History of the Hammer Throw – More Power |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075511/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/hammerthrow/ss/illushammer_2.htm |archive-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=usurped |website=About |access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref> Professional hammer throwers were historically large, strong, sturdy athletes. However, qualities such as refined technique, speed and flexibility have become increasingly important in the modern era as the legal throwing area has been reduced from 90 to 34.92 degrees and throwing technique involves three to four controlled rotations.<ref name=IAAFHT /><ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=9411.html Hammer Throw – Is it for me?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402074216/http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=9411.html |date=2 April 2010 }}. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 12 May 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=http://trackandfield.about.com/od/hammerthrow/ss/illushammer_4.htm |title=An Illustrated History of the Hammer Throw – Where the hammer throw is now |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075517/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/hammerthrow/ss/illushammer_4.htm |archive-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=usurped |website=About |access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref>