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How heavy is the hammer in the hammer throw?

The men's hammer weighs 7.26 kg (16 lb), the same as the men's shot, and the women's 4 kg. U20 men throw 6 kg and U18 boys 5 kg; U18 girls throw 3 kg.

Hammer weights by level
LevelMen / boysWomen / girls
Senior7.26 kg (16 lb)4 kg
U206 kg4 kg
U185 kg3 kg

Ball, wire and handle

The weight is the whole implement: the metal ball, the steel wire and the grip. The thrower turns in a 2.135 metre circle, the same size as the shot put circle, inside a cage.

Sources: World Athletics Book of Rules: Competition and Technical Rules. Updated 2026-10-31.