Sports Classics

At the 1976 Olympic Games, a young Hungarian thrower, Miklos Nemeth, was about to compete in the Men's Javelin throw. Miklos Nemeth was a young man with much pressure on him. The son of the 1948 Olympic Hammer Gold medalist, Imre Nemeth, Miklos had dealt with the pressures of being the child of a great athlete.

In 1968 and in 1972, he had failed to live up to his country's dreams and by 1976, he was not considered a favorite.

But, something happened on the way to the javelin competition. Nemeth was given the first throw of the competition.

The pictures from the meet tell the story. Nemeth came up to the runway and began his run. His form was perfect, and as he released the javelin he almost did a 360 degree turn as he stopped himself from fouling his throw. After his turn around he looke up, and he looked up again and then jumped for sheer joy--he had broken the world record by six feet!

None of his competition recovered from his great first throw. And Miklos Nemeth went on to win the 1976 Olympic gold in the Men's Javelin.