Which nation has the most Olympic Hammer titles? Ireland, believe it or believe it not.

Who was the first man to use the heel-toe turn in the hammer? Pat O'Callaghan.

The Golden age of Irish Olympic hammer throwing was between 1900 and 1932. In that period of time, athletes born in, or competing, for Ireland won 6 gold medals, and in 1908 took the top three places in the hammer.

In the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Pat O'Callaghan, the best hammer thrower in the World and unofficially the World record holder as well as Olympic defending champion, was unable to compete in Berlin. This was because by then, the NACAI and Ireland had been banned by the IAAF and the Olympic movement, because of political interference by outside forces on the issue of Irish sporting unity.

The last Irish Hammer thrower to reach an Olympic final was John Lawlor, who finished 4th in Rome (1960) with 64.95m.

So what happened Irish Hammer throwing? Everyone else took drugs? Maybe. Here's the theory.

The way to throw far isn't the traditional Irish & British way of dragging the hammer and training heavy hammers. The way to throw far is the Russian way, push the hammer & throw light hammers, the way Paddy, Roman and Ed throw. Get used to throwing far and you will throw far.

So you want proof?

Commonwealth Games 2002
1. Mick Jones England - 72.55
2. Phillip Jensen New Zealand - 69.48
3. Paul Head England - 68.60

Sydney Olympics 2000
1. S. Ziolkowski Poland - 80.02
2. N. Vizzoni Italy - 79.64
3. I. Astapkovich Blurussia - 79.17

All Olympic Finalists threw over 73m, in qualifying 29 threw over 72.55, 38 threw over 68.60. Competing against himself, under no pressure, Roman Linscheid threw 69.63 to win the Irish Seniors by 14m in 2002.

Check the IAAF All Time List, 84 throws are listed, the shortest is 80.78m. 74 of the throws come form a group formed by Germany and former Eastern European or Soviet countries.

I don't throw hammer, but if I did I know what I'd be trying to do.

Here's how the Russians do it Key Elements in Russian Hammer Technique from CanThrow.com

Yuriy Sedykh's World Record Photo Sequence

Sergej Litvinov Photo Sequence

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