The men's freestyle javelin throw was one of six throwing events on the Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme in London.

This was the only time such a "freestyle" event was held at the Olympics.

[2] This was the modern Olympic debut of the javelin throw, discounting the 1906 Intercalated Games which are no longer considered part of the Olympics.

(*) unofficial Eric Lemming set a new world and Olympic record throwing in the standard manner in the freestyle event.

Two days later in the standard javelin throw event, Lemming improved his own world and Olympic record set in this event with 54.83 m. Eric Lemming set a new world and Olympic record with 54.44 metres.