Five fascinating facts about Max Dehning, youngest 90m javelin thrower

Published at :March 10, 2024 at 11:59 PM

Modified at :March 10, 2024 at 11:59 PM

23-year-old recently became the youngest Javelin thrower to breach the 90m mark

The Winter Throwing Championships in Halle, Germany, witnessed the emergence of a promising contender in the men’s javelin throw, creating a buzz and sparking curiosity. The teenager, Max Dehning unleashed an impressive season opener of 90.20m, catapulting himself into the exclusive 90m club in men’s javelin throw.

Adding to the excitement, Dehning also became the youngest ever to breach the 90m mark, surpassing the record set by three-time Olympic medalist Steve Backley, who accomplished the milestone at 23. Dehning’s throw also established a new junior world record, surpassing the previous record set by reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra in 2016 by nearly 4 meters.

Despite holding a personal best of 79.13m, the prevailing notion was that Dehning had a considerable distance to cover before becoming a serious contender. Surprisingly, he stands as the sole javelin thrower in history to achieve a 90m throw before reaching the 80m mark.

His remarkable 90.20m throw occurred on his initial attempt, followed closely by an impressive 85.22m throw on his second attempt. This established that his significant throw was not a mere stroke of luck and positioned him as a potential Olympic candidate.

Here are five interesting things you must know about 19-year-old Max Dehning:

Winning Medals at Junior Levels

In August 2022, Dehning secured the silver medal in the javelin competition at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships held in Cali, Colombia. Continuing his success, Dehning clinched the silver medal at the 2023 European Athletics U20 Championships in Jerusalem in August 2023 with a throw of 78.07 meters.

At just 19 years old, his latest triumph propels him ahead of Olympic Champion Neeraj and European champion Julian Weber, both of whom have yet to reach the 90m mark in their careers.

Germany’s Javelin Legacy

His upbringing in Leverkusen instilled a profound appreciation for sports. Germany boasts a rich history of javelin throw icons, from past world record holder Uwe Hohn to recent champions like Thomas Röhler, who claimed victory in 2016.

Leading up to the Tokyo Games, two more German throwers—Johannes Vetter and Andreas Hofmann—had already joined the prestigious 90m club. Now, a new contender emerges from Germany, adding to the nation’s impressive lineage in the men’s javelin throw.

Transition from Team Sports to Javelin

Dehning initially followed in his father’s footsteps and engaged in handball before transitioning to track and field. His early athletic endeavors included participation in both shot put and 400m events, later narrowing his focus to the javelin. Raised in Leverkusen, a city known for its sports culture, he displayed a keen interest in football and handball during his youth.

His introduction to competitive throwing began at the U16 level, ultimately leading to his victory in the German juvenile javelin championship. His older sister, Marie, an accomplished heptathlete, played a pivotal role in guiding him into athletics.

Passion for Construction Work

When he’s not on the athletics field, Dehning often dedicates his time to constructing roofs. His father oversees a carpentry and timber construction company, while his mother holds the position of a construction technician. Fueled by a deep interest in crafts, he is also naturally inclined to dedicate his leisure hours to the building site.

Family of Athletes

While Dehning envisions following his parents into the construction business in the future, he is also inspired by his athletic family. From the outset, sports have held a significant role within his family. Both his parents were accomplished athletes; his father, Sascha Dehning, played handball, while his mother was involved in both athletics and swimming.

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