Uwe Hohn, Neeraj Chopra's coach, and the only man to ever throw a javelin over 100m did not win an Olympic medal because East Germany boycotted the 1984 games in Los Angeles
As throws reached 100m during the mid-80s, the design of the javelins changed to push the centre of gravity 4 cm ahead, which reduced throw distance because it's harder to throw something that is more front-heavy
While it's tempting to assume that this sport is all about shoulder and arm strength, it isn't. The biggest biomechanical factor in throw distance is the ability to plonk the left foot down and transfer energy via the hips and trunk to the throwing arm
And do this while maintaining as much velocity as possible since that is the single biggest factor in the throw distance. So the Germans and the Czech guys might be taller and wider, but the gold medal-winning throw of Neeraj should tell you it's not just upper body strength
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