19-Year-Old Max Dehning Becomes Youngest Athlete to Record 90m+ Javelin Throw

Germany’s Max Dehning became the youngest athlete to throw a javelin over a 90m distance at the German Winter Throwing Championships 2024 in Werferzentrum Brandberge, Halle on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Dehning was unmatched in the men’s javelin throw competition in Germany, winning the meet with a throw of 90.20m. It set a new European U23 record, eclipsing the previous mark of 89.58m set by Briton Steve Backley in Stockholm in 1990.

The 90m throw was Dehning’s first attempt. His second throw measured 85.45m. The remaining attempts were skipped or were deemed invalid.

“I was sick last week and couldn’t train properly,” Dehning told the leichtathletik.de website. “I really wanted to take part in the competition here, but the fact that it went so far so well surprised me too.”

Nico Rensmann was the next best in the competition in Halle with an effort of 76.56m, a little over 13.6m short.

It was also a new German U23 record, previously held by the current German national coach Boris Obergföll (formerly Boris Henry) at 88.46m.

With the effort, Max Dehning, a two-time World U20 Championships silver medallist, also met the entry standard for the Paris 2024 Olympics, easily surpassing the mark of 85.50m.

However, achieving the entry standard is just one part of the Olympic qualification process. National Olympic Committees have the final say as to whether Max Dehning will be selected to the NOC team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The throw also met the entry standard for the European Athletics Championships 2024, scheduled to be held in Rome, Italy in June.

Dehning’s previous personal best was 79.13m, achieved at a Leverkusen meet in 2022. His latest effort was a little over 11m that his previous best.