Jan Železný
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games • Administrator |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Jan•Železný |
| Used name | Jan•Železný |
| Born | 16 June 1966 in Mladá Boleslav, Středočeský kraj (CZE) |
| Measurements | 185 cm / 86 kg |
| Affiliations | Dukla Banská Bystrica, Banská Bystrica (SVK) / ASC Dukla, Praha (CZE) / SSK Vítkovice, Vítkovice, Ostrava (CZE) / AC Start, Karlovy Vary (CZE) |
| NOC |  Czechia  Czechoslovakia |
| Nationality | Czechia |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 3 |
| Silver | 1 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 4 |
Biography
Jan Železný is considered the greatest javelin thrower in track & field history. At the 1988 Olympic Games, he narrowly missed winning the gold medal, settling for silver. But he has since won the gold medal at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games. He was also World Champion with the javelin in 1993, 1995 and 2001. Although the javelin specifications have changed twice during his career, he can claim six world records with the various spears. In December 1999, Železný was elected a member of the IOC as an athlete member, having previously been a member of the Athletes’ Commission.
Personal Best: JT – 98.48 (1996).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | Nationality | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Summer Olympics | Athletics | TCH |
CZE |
Jan Železný | |||
| Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) | 2 | Silver | |||||
| 1992 Summer Olympics | Athletics | TCH |
CZE |
Jan Železný | |||
| Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | |||||
| 1996 Summer Olympics | Athletics | CZE |
Jan Železný | ||||
| Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | |||||
| 2000 Summer Olympics | Athletics | CZE |
Jan Železný | ||||
| Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | |||||
| 2004 Summer Olympics | Athletics | CZE |
Jan Železný | ||||
| Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) | 9 |
Organization roles
| Role | Organization | Tenure | NOC | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete | International Olympic Committee | 1999—2001 | CZE |
Jan Železný | |
| Athlete | International Olympic Committee | 2004—2012 | CZE |
Jan Železný |
Special Notes
- Listed in Current World Record Holders in Athletics (javelin throw 98.48 (1996))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Athletics Championships (0–0–2 1994 Helsinki bronze: javelin throw (competed for Czech Republic); 2006 Göteborg bronze: javelin throw (competed for Czech Republic))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Athletics Championships (3–0–2 1987 Rome bronze: javelin throw (competed for Czechoslovakia); 1993 Stuttgart gold: javelin throw (competed for Czech Republic); 1995 Göteborg gold: javelin throw (competed for Czech Republic); 1999 Sevilla bronze: javelin throw (competed for Czech Republic); 2001 Edmonton gold: javelin throw (competed for Czech Republic))
- Listed in Olympians With Asteroids Named After Them (9224 Železný)