October 9, 2006: Javelin accident

Can't be too careful, I guess - this track and field judge named Lia Mara Lourenco was hit in a competition in Brazil. Brief after-the-fact Reuters news video is here (0:27):



Transported to hospital with the javelin still in the foot - I guess that's the right way to go, although you would really hope somebody could locate a hacksaw and at least make it shorter and less likely to lever right into nerve endings.

The distance of the throw? 198 yards and (drumroll please) one foot.

Ow

Yah, thats gonna leave a mark.

Yikes, what'll become of her foot??

I'm still trying to figure out how you don't see that coming.....

Considering she's one of the judges, shouldn't she be paying attention where it's headed??

I'm sure it hurts like the devil - nothing like literally getting nailed to the ground.

I know what she's thinking: MORPHINE!

PS-Flint, that was uncalled for.

What are the chances? I mean, that's centered pretty well in the middle of her foot. This was forwarded to me a few days ago, and I definitely thought it was fake...


And PS - Not only was she not looking, but...

...what was she doing in the middle of the freakin' field?

Happened before

I've seen video (though I'm too busy/lazy right now to locate it) of a judge getting impaled by a javelin. He got it straight through the middle. It was really weird because he was completely oblivious to it until it struck.

I saw that video at least four years ago, so I'm sure it's around on the 'net somewhere.

A kid on my high school track and field team would catch the javelin. This is at the end of a real throw! I think he got "most likely to die young" in our yearbook.

the judges are in the field to mark the spot where they javelin hits -- when the javelin fails to 'stick' the landing.

and like any flying object: they are often difficult to see when they are coming straight for you.

nope... still requires someone to 'flag' the spot and to hold the end of the measuring tape.

There is usually a safety person who watches the field to make sure it is clear before signalling to the athlete. Of course, it's also easy for the javelin to take an errant course.

Found that old video

OK. I found the video I mentioned earlier. It's tiny, but you can see why I remembered it. For those who might be squeamish... it's not really gory.

http://www.stfunoob.com/movies/Unlik...20Accident.mpg

Lia Mara Lourenco's dream of becoming the first internationally recognized javelin punter comes to a painful end.

welcome, spuck!

Well, is nothing else I learned how they do the lines in NFL! Thanks all!

Someone had mentioned that the judges needed to be where they are placed because (and this is my take on it, please correct if wrong) the javelin does not always stick into the ground, so the landing spot must be determined.

But a javelin is sharp enough to impale a foot or a body; wouldn't it probably leave some kind of "divot" in the ground?

Not to mention when it lands flat and does not pierce the ground at all.

I guess I was thinking that if the javelin did not stick, it would make some sort of tear in the ground. You wouldn't need to be right up on it to spot it and find it later.

But, the javelin experts have set me straight. I had no idea of the intricacies involved in stick throwing. I apologize to the many javelin advocates and hope that I haven't offended your sensibilities with my ignorance of this most beloved of activities.

Impale away, I say!

(hangs head in shame)

What's black and white and red and can't use a revolving door?

Thanks for the welcome Spexxvet!

I have been looking at the cellar for a few months and usually laughing my head off at the sharp wit the flows freely around here.

It took me a while to get in because all the cellar responses were whacked out by spam filters.. ARGH!! Death to spammers.

I wounder what it's like to be watching a javelin coming in your direction from out of the sky and to lose it... in glare, or clouds, or the sun, as it is the size of a quarter coming at you. Then you have a short time to wonder..... where it will hit... ARGH!! - MY *&%^$*%#$ FOOT!!!! (medic!)

This IOTD should be a wake up call for all members; make sure you have a current tetanus shot!

And we have the winner of the "catch the javelin" contest...

A mime with a spear through the chest?

An unfortunate outcome

Poor pool cue... LOL