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Throughout the early decades of international athletics, several field events that are no longer contested formed part of the official programme of national and international competitions. These included the standing jumps, which tested explosive power without a run-up, and the two-handed throwing events, where athletes combined their best performances with each arm to produce a total result.

Many of these disciplines were recognised by the Fédération Sportive Féminine Internationale (FSFI) and later by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), producing official world record progressions that document an important chapter in the evolution of athletics. Although eventually replaced by the modern versions of the events, their records preserve the technical development and achievements of many of the sport’s pioneering athletes.

This section presents the official world record progression for each discontinued field event (jumps and throws), together with historical notes highlighting their significance and eventual disappearance from the international programme.

Discontinued Jumps & Throws Events World Records Progression
Men’s events

Standing High Jump

The standing high jump was one of the original standing jumping events, requiring athletes to clear the bar from a stationary position without the aid of a run-up. It featured in the early Olympic Games and remained an officially recognised discipline during the first decades of the twentieth century before gradually disappearing from international competition.

The official world record progression was remarkably short, consisting of only two recognised improvements. Both records were set by American athletes, reflecting the dominance of the United States in the standing jumps during the event’s brief competitive history.

Historical Highlights

• Only two official world records were recognised before the event disappeared from international athletics.
• Standing high jump required athletes to jump from a standing start, without an approach run.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
1.67	Leo Goehring	USA	14/6/1913	New York	NY AC Games
1.66	Ray Ewry	USA	7/9/1901	Buffalo	Pan American Exhibition meeting

Standing Long Jump

The standing long jump measured explosive leg power without the assistance of a run-up and was part of the early Olympic programme. Although widely contested during the first years of modern athletics, very few performances were officially recognised as world records.

Only one official world record was ratified, set by the legendary Ray Ewry in 1904, making it one of the shortest official world record progressions in athletics history.

Historical Highlights

• The event was contested from a standing start without an approach run.
• Ray Ewry set the only officially recognised world record.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
3.47	Ray Ewry	USA	29/8/1904	St. Louis	Olympic Games

Shot Put (both hands)

The two-handed shot put was one of the most enduring discontinued throwing events in athletics. Instead of measuring the best throw with the dominant arm, athletes recorded one throw with each hand, and the combined distance determined the official result. The event rewarded not only strength but also balance and technical proficiency on both sides of the body.

Official world records were recognised from 1912 until 1935, making it the longest-lived of all the two-handed throwing disciplines.

Histrorical Highlights

• Athletes combined their best right-handed and left-handed throws into a single official performance.
• The event remained officially recognised for more than 60 years, making it the longest-lasting two-handed throwing discipline.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
29.46	József Darányi	HUN	28/9/1935	Budapest	MAC Meeting	(15.77 + 13.69)
28.75	Zygmunt Heljasz	POL	18/8/1935	Poznan	National Meeting	(15.58 + 13.17)
28.68	John Torrance	USA	6/8/1934	Oslo	International Meeting	(16.73 + 13.24)
28.67	József Darányi	HUN	20/9/1931	Budapest	International MAC Meeting	(15.43 + 13.24)
28.04	József Darányi	HUN	14/6/1931	Budapest	Meeting of the MAC	(14.80 + 13.24)
28.00	Ralph Rose	USA	2/6/1912	Oakland		(15.39 + 12.61)

Discus Throw (both hands)

The two-handed discus throw was an early variation of the traditional discus event in which athletes combined their best throws with the right and left arm to produce a total distance. Designed to reward balanced throwing ability, the discipline enjoyed only brief international recognition during the early twentieth century.

Historical Highlights

• Athletes combined one throw with each arm into a single official result.
• Only one official world records was recognised before the event was discontinued.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
90.13	Elmer Niklander	FIN	20/7/1913	Helsinki		(45.57 + 45.56)

Javelin Throw (both hands)

The two-handed javelin throw required competitors to combine their best throws with the right and left arm into a single total distance. Although occasionally contested during the early twentieth century, the discipline never developed an official world record progression and soon disappeared from international competition. The single historical performance known is this by Yngve Häckner (SWE) – 114.28 (61.81+52.47), 30/9/1917, Karlskoga.

Weight Throw (35 LB)

The 35-pound weight throw was a heavy throwing event contested primarily in North America during the early years of modern athletics. Despite limited international competition, the discipline never established an official world record progression and remained outside the standard programme of international championships. The single historical performance known is this by Matthew McGarth (USA) – 12.35 (23/9/1911, Montreal).

Discontinued & Non-Olympic Jumps & Throws Events World Records Progression
Women’s events

Standing High Jump

The standing high jump was one of the original women’s standing jumping events, requiring athletes to clear the bar from a stationary position without the aid of a run-up. Although contested internationally during the early decades of women’s athletics, the discipline had a relatively short official history before being discontinued.

The official world record progression extended from 1915 to 1934, when Gerda Gottlieb set the final recognised world record of 1.32 m.

Historical Highlights

• The event tested explosive jumping ability from a standing start without an approach run.
• Gerda Gottlieb (AUT) set the final official world record of 1.32 m in 1934.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
1.32	Gerda Gottlieb	AUT	12/5/1934	Wien
1.29	Claudia Testoni	ITA	29/6/1932	Bologna	Local Meeting
1.16	Madelein Dupuis	FRA	12/7/1926	Paris
1.13	Edith Alauze	FRA	14/7/1924	Paris	French Championships
1.13	Ludmilla Ocaldiková	TCH	25/5/1924	Moravská Ostrawa	Women’s Meeting of the Hana district of the SHZS
1.05	Thérèse Brulé	FRA	2/6/1917	Paris
1.16	Pates	USA	12/3/1915	Lexington

Standing Long Jump

The standing long jump measured explosive leg power without the assistance of a run-up and was among the early field events contested in women’s athletics. Although the discipline was popular during the sport’s formative years, only a limited number of official world records were recognised before it disappeared from international competition.

Historical Highlights

• Athletes jumped from a standing start without an approach run.
• Dorothy Lyford (USA) established the final official world record of 2.625 m in 1933.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
2.625	Dorothy Lyford	USA	10/6/1933	Boston
2.57	Barbara Holliday	GBR	20/7/1937	London

Shot Put (5KG)

The 5 kg shot put was one of several implements experimented with during the early development of women’s athletics before international standardisation established the 4 kg shot. Official world records were recognised for only a short period, primarily under the FSFI.

Athletes from Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Poland contributed to the event’s progression before it was abandoned in favour of the modern specification.

Historical Highlights

• The event preceded the adoption of the modern 4 kg shot put.
• Halina Konopacka (POL) established the final recognised world record of 8.59 m in 1926.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
8.59	Halina Konopacka	POL	5/6/1926	Warszawa
8.40	Ludmilla Vencová	TCH	11/7/1925	Ljubljana	TCH-YUG women’s match
8.20	Marie Mejzliková I	TCH	6/8/1922	Prostejov		This was an error. Mejzliková did only 7.200 on 8/9/1920. The 8.20 was an error by CSR officials, while the date and venue was a mistake by the FSFI (World Athletics 2024)

Shot Put (5 Kg) – Both Hands

The two-handed shot put combined throws with both the right and left hand, with the combined distance determining the result. Like other two-handed throwing events, it briefly gained popularity during the 1920s before disappearing from international athletics.

Historical Highlights

• Maria Vencová (TCH) set both ratified world records, the last of 16.32 m in 1926.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
16,32	Ludmilla Vencová	TCH	6/7/1926	Praha	Women’s Match Praha – Brno – Wien – Ljubljana
16,25	Ludmilla Vencová	USA	11/7/2025	Ljubljana	TCH-YUG Women’s match

Javelin Throw (800 g)

Before the introduction of the modern 600 g women’s javelin, female athletes competed with the heavier 800 g implement. The event was contested during the pioneering years of international women’s athletics and produced a short but significant world record progression.

The discipline illustrates the rapid technical development of women’s throwing events before international regulations adopted lighter implements.

Historical Highlights

• Early women’s competitions were contested with an 800 g javelin.
• Kamila Olmerová (TCH) established the final recognised world record of 34.85 m in 1926.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
34.85	Kamila Olmerová	TCH	8/8/1926	Brno	Women’s Match Brno – Wien
32.56	Marie Vidláková	TCH	19/7/1925	Brno	Moravian women’s district qualification meeting

Javelin Throw (800 g) – Both Hands

The two-handed javelin throw required athletes to throw with both arms, with the combined distance determining the final performance. Although the discipline appeared in several early women’s competitions, it never became a permanent international event.

Historical Highlights

• Central European Athletes (TCH, SUI, FRA) contributed to the fast progression of the event.
• Kamila Olmerová (TCH) established the final recognised world record of 58.11 m in 1926.

Official World Record Progression

Mark	Athlete	Country	Date	City	Competition	Notes
58.11	Kamila Olmerová	TCH	8/8/1926	Brno	Women’s Match Brno – Wien	All javelin records by CSR women were made with the free style – with the finger-grip at the end of the javelin
54.43	Francesca Pianzola	SUI	18/10/1925	Lausanne
53.14	Kamila Olmerová	TCH	16/8/1925	Praha	CSR Women’s Championships
49.29	Marie Vidláková	TCH	23/8/1924	Praha	Women’s meeting CSR-YUG
47.61	Kamila Olmerová	TCH	20/7/1924	Brno	CSR Championships
47.12	Lisbeth Grolimond	SUI	23/9/1923	Paris	FRA-ENG Match
46.04	Violette Moris	FRA	3/7/1921	Paris	French Championships