Russian’s record-breaking throw remembered

ON July 3 1984, 20 years to the day before today’s Cork City Sports, the giant Russian thrower, Yuri Sedykh, threw the 16lb hammer a remarkable 86.34 metres at the Mardyke, smashing the world record.

On the night, Yuri and his fellow countryman, Sergei Litvinov, had enthralled the spectators at the City Sports by breaking the record a phenomenal six times during the event.

Yuri claimed the ultimate mark and his throw was declared a world record. After the event, there followed a few anxious days while the hammer, complete with Garda escort, was brought to be independently weighed and measured in Co Kildare, to ensure compliance with world athletics criteria.