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Discus throw

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The Discus is an athletic throwing event in track and field competition. The discus, the object to be thrown, is a heavy lenticular disc with a diameter of 220 mm (8.66 inches) and a weight of two kilograms (4 lb 7 oz) for the men's event, and one kg (2 lb 3 oz) for the women's, with a smaller diameter of 181 mm (7.17 inches). In U.S. high school track and field, boys typically throw a discus weighing 1.616 kg (3 lb 9 oz) and the girls throw the 1 kg (2.2 lb) women's disc. The discus can be thrown starting at age 11 (midget division). Most children throw the 1 kg discus. The discus usually has sides made of rubber, plastic, wood, or metal with a metal rim and a metal core to attain the weight. A discus with more weight in the rim produces greater angular momentum for any given spin rate, and thus more stability, although it is more difficult to throw. A practice discus made of solid rubber is often used in High School; it is cheaper, more durable, and easier to learn to throw (due to its more equal distribution of weight, as opposed to the heavy rim weight of the metal rim/core discus).

Discus throwing is an ancient sport. In the 5th century BC the sculptor Myron made a statue of a discus thrower (Discobolus), which is world-famous today. To make a throw, the competitor starts in a slightly recessed concrete-surfaced circle of 2.5 meters (8 feet 2½ inches) diameter. The thrower typically takes an initial stance facing away from the direction of the throw. He then spins around one and a half times through the circle to build momentum, then releases his throw. The discus must land within a 40-degree or 60-degree arc marked by lines on the landing zone, and the competitor must not exit the circle until the discus has landed, then must wait for the judge to give clearance to exit the ring from the rear half. The distance from the front edge of the circle to where the discus has landed is measured, and distances are rounded down to the nearest centimeter or half-inch. The competitor's best throw from the allocated number of throws, typically three to six, is recorded, and the competitor who legally throws the discus the farthest is declared the winner. Ties are broken by determining which thrower has the longer second-best throw.

The basic motion is a forehanded sidearm movement. The discus is spun off the index finger or the middle finger of the throwing hand, spinning clockwise when viewed above for a right-handed thrower, and vice-versa. As well as achieving maximum momentum in the discus on throwing, the discus's distance is also determined by the trajectory the thrower imparts, as well as the aerodynamic behaviour of the discus. Generally, one wishes to throw into a moderate headwind to achieve maximum throws. Also, a faster-spinning discus imparts greater gyroscopic stability. The technique of discus throwing is quite difficult to master and needs lots of experience to get right, thus most top throwers are thirty years old or older.

A common technique employed by younger people is to not spin at all, but to jump forward a step to gather momentum. Although it doesn't provide as much power, it is easier to do.

Interestingly, the discus is the only track and field event in which a men's world record has never been set during the Olympic Games.

World Record Progress

Men

MARK ATHLETE VENUE DATE
47.58 New York 1912-05-27
47.61 Chicago 1924-09-14
47.89 San Francisco 1925-05-02
48.20 Palo Alto 1926-04-02
49.90 Palo Alto 1929-03-09
51.03 Palo Alto 1930-05-17
51.73 Pittsburgh 1930-08-23
52.42 Oslo 1934-08-25
53.10 Magdeburg 1935-04-28
53.26 Palo Alto 1941-06-20
53.34 Milano 1941-10-26
54.23 Milano 1946-04-14
54.93 Minneapolis 1946-06-08
55.33 Milano 1948-10-10
56.46 Lisbon 1949-07-09
56.97 Hameenlinna 1949-08-14
57.93 Lincoln 1953-06-20
58.10 Pasadena 1953-07-11
59.28 Pasadena 1953-08-22
59.91 Warsaw 1959-06-14
59.91 Walnut 1960-08-12
60.56 Frankfurt 1961-08-11
60.72 Bruxelles 1961-08-20
61.10 Los Angeles 1962-05-18
61.64 Leningrad 1962-06-04
62.45 Chicago 1962-07-01
62.62 Walnut 1963-04-27
62.94 Walnut 1964-04-25
64.55 Turnov 1964-08-02
65.22 Sokolov 1965-10-12
66.54 Modesto 1968-05-25
68.40 Reno 1968-09-18
68.40 Stockholm 1972-07-05
68.48 Stellenbosch 1975-03-14
69.08 Long Beach 1975-05-03
69.18 Walnut 1976-04-24
69.80 San Jose 1976-05-01
70.24 San Jose 1976-05-01
70.86 San Jose 1976-05-01
71.16 Berlin 1978-08-09
71.86 Moscow 1983-05-29
74.08 Neubrandenburg 1986-06-06

Women

MARK ATHLETE VENUE DATE
27.39 Paris 1923-09-23
27.70 Paris 1924-07-14
28.325 Brussels 1924-07-21
30.225 Paris 1924-09-14
31.15 Prague 1925-10-11
34.15 Warsaw 1926-05-23
38.34 Braunschweig 1926-08-22
39.18 Warsaw 1927-09-04
39.62 Amsterdam 1928-07-31
40.345 Pabianice 1932-05-15
40.39 Lodz 1932-05-16
40.84 Hagen 1932-06-19
42.43 Lodz 1932-06-19
43.08 Królewska Huta 1933-07-15
43.795 London 1934-08-11
44.34 Ulm 1935-06-02
44.76 Nuremberg 1935-06-04
45.53 Munich 1935-06-23
46.10 Jena 1935-06-29
47.12 Dresden 1935-08-25
48.31 Dresden 1936-07-11
53.25 Moscow 1948-08-08
53.37 Gori 1951-05-27
53.61 Odessa 1952-08-09
57.04 Tblisi 1952-10-18
57.15 Rome 1960-09-12
57.43 Moscow 1961-07-15
58.06 Sofia 1961-09-01
58.98 London 1961-09-20
59.29 Moscow 1963-05-19
59.70 Moscow 1965-08-11
61.26 São Paulo 1967-11-05
61.64 Regis-Breitingen 1968-05-26
62.54 Werdohl 1968-08-24
62.70 Berlin 1969-06-18
63.96 Hamburg 1969-09-27
64.22 Helsinki 1971-08-12
64.88 Munich 1971-09-04
65.42 Moscow 1972-05-31
65.48 Augsburg 1972-06-24
66.76 Moscow 1972-08-04
67.32 Bucharest 1972-09-23
67.44 Riga 1973-05-25
67.58 Moscow 1973-07-11
69.48 Edinburgh 1973-09-07
69.90 Prague 1974-05-27
70.20 Zurich 1975-08-20
70.50 Sochi 1976-04-24
70.72 Dresden 1978-08-12
71.50 Potsdam 1980-05-10
71.80 Sofia 1980-07-15
73.26 Lessilidse 1983-05-23
73.36 Prague 1984-08-17
74.56 Nitra 1984-08-26
76.80 Neubrandenburg 1988-07-09

European Record Progression

Men

MARK ATHLETE VENUE DATE
45.57 Helsinki 1913-07-20
52.42 Oslo 1934-08-25
53.10 Magdeburg 1935-04-28
53.34 Milano 1941-10-26
54.23 Milano 1946-04-14
54.80 Milano 1948-08-22
54.89 Verona 1946-09-18
55.33 Milano 1948-10-10
55.47 Roma 1950-07-23
55.79 Budapest 1954-07-04
56.47 Breznice 1955-07-17
56.69 Manchester 1955-10-15
56.98 Bellinzona 1955-12-11
57.89 Pabianice 1959-05-10
58.33 Györ 1959-06-07
59.91 Warszawa 1959-06-14
60.47 Lódz 1961-08-16
61.64 Leningrad 1962-06-04
62.45 Vyskov 1964-05-10
64.55 Turnov 1964-08-02
65.22 Sokolov 1965-10-12
66.48 Long Beach 1969-06-08
68.06 Malmö 1969-09-21
68.40 Stockholm 1972-07-05
68.60 Köln 1976-05-21
68.92 Berlin 1978-05-31
71.16 Berlin 1978-08-09
71.86 Moscow 1983-05-29
74.08 Neubrandenburg 1986-06-06

Women

  • See above (World Record Progression Women)


Top Ten Performers

Accurate as of February 1, 2007. All distances are in meters

Men

MARK ATHLETE VENUE DATE
74.08 Neubrandenburg June 6, 1986
73.88 Kaunas August 3, 2000
73.38 Helsingborg September 4, 2006
71.86 Moscow May 29, 1983
71.70 Szombathely July 14, 2002
71.50 Wiesbaden May 3, 1997
71.32 Eugene June 4, 1983
71.26 San Jose June 9, 1984
71.26 Malmö November 15, 1984
71.26 San Jose May 25, 1985

Women

MARK ATHLETE VENUE DATE
76.80 Neubrandenburg July 9, 1988
74.56 Nitra August 26, 1984
74.56 Neubrandenburg July 23, 1989
74.08 Karl-Marx-Stadt June 20, 1987
73.84 Bucharest April 30, 1988
73.36 Prague August 17, 1984
73.28 Donetsk September 8, 1984
73.23 Kazanlak April 19, 1987
73.10 Berlin July 20, 1984
72.92 Potsdam August 20, 1987

The best three throwers post-1992 are: Natalya Sadova, (70.02) later convicted of drug offences; Mette Bergmann, (69.68); Franka Dietzsch, (69.51)

Best Year Performance

Women's Seasons Best

YEAR DISTANCE ATHLETE PLACE
1973 69.48 Edinburgh
1974 69.90 Prague
1975 70.20 Zürich
1976 70.50 Sochi
1977 68.92 Karl-Marx-Stadt
1978 70.72 Dresden
1979 69.82 Leipzig
1980 71.80 Sofia
1981 71.46 Berlin
1982 71.40 Karl-Marx-Stadt
1983 73.26 Leselidze
1984 74.56 Nitra
1985 72.96 Erfurt
1986 73.26 Neubrandenburg
1987 74.08 Karl-Marx-Stadt
1988 76.80 Neubrandenburg
1989 74.56 Neubrandenburg
1990 71.10 Tel Aviv
1991 71.02 Tokyo
1992 71.68 Beijing
1993 68.14 Vénissieux
1994 68.72
Auckland
Helsinki
1995 69.68 Florø
1996 69.66 Atlanta
1997 70.00 Shanghai
1998 68.91 Stendal
1999 70.02 Thessaloniki
2000 68.70 Bucharest
2001 68.57 Edmonton
2002 69.44 La Jolla
2003 69.38 Halle
2004 69.14 Stayki
2005 66.81 Prague
2006 68.51 Schönebeck
2007 68.06 Halle

National records

Men

NATION MARK ATHLETE VENUE DATE
74.08 Jürgen Schult Neubrandenburg 1986-06-06
73.88 Virgilijus Alekna Kaunas 2000-08-03
73.38 Gerd Kanter Helsingborg 2006-09-04
72.34 Ben Plucknett Stockholm 1981-07-07
71.86 Yuriy Dumchev Moscow 1983-05-29
71.70 Róbert Fazekas Szombathely 2002-07-14
71.26 Imrich Bugár San Jose 1985-05-25
71.26 Ricky Bruch Malmö 1984-11-15
71.06 Luis Mariano Delís Havana 1983-05-21
70.32 Frantz Kruger Salon-de-Provence 2002-05-26
69.97 Frantz Kruger Helsingborg 2007-09-15
69.62 Knut Hjeltnes San Jose 1985-05-25
69.44 Georgiy Kolnootchenko Indianapolis 1982-07-03
68.90 Jean-Claude Retel Salon-de-Provence 2002-07-17
68.88 Vladimir Zinchenko Dnepropetrovsk 1988-07-16
68.26 Mario Prestano Athens 2007-07-02
68.12 Erik de Bruin Sneek 1991-04-01
68.12 Josif Naghi Zaragoza 1983-05-22
67.95 Ehsan Hadadi Stayki 2007-06-09
67.89 Nick Sweeney Helsingborg 1998-09-04
67.88 Jason Tunks Abilene 1998-05-14
67.84 Alex Kruger Brisbane 2005-09-01
67.82 Velko Velev Riga 1978-08-15
67.80 Adewale Olukoju Modesto 1991-05-11
67.64 Vesteinn Hafsteinsson Selfoss 1989-05-31
67.62 Martino Marco Spoleto 1989-05-28
67.20 Jaroslav Zitnansku Beveren 2002-08-18
66.61 Piotr Malachowski Kaunas 2007-07-25
66.58 Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly Helsingborg 2007-06-28
66.32 Jorge Balliengo Rosario 2006-04-15

Women

NATION MARK ATHLETE VENUE DATE
76.80 Gabriele Reinsch Neubrandenburg 1988-07-09
74.56 Zdenka Šilhavá Nitra 1984-08-26
73.84 Daniela Costian Bucharest 1988-04-30
73.28 Galina Savinkova Donetsk 1984-09-08
73.22 Tsvetanka Khristova Kasanlak 1987-04-19
72.14 Galina Murasova Prague 1984-08-17
71.68 Xiao Yanling Beijing 1992-03-14
71.58 Ellina Zvereva Leningrad 1988-06-12
71.22 Ria Stalman Walnut 1984-07-15
70.88 Hilda Elisa Ramos Havana 1992-05-08
70.80 Larisa Mikhalchenko Kharkov 1988-06-18
69.68 Mette Bergmann Florø 1995-05-27
69.48 Faina Melnyk Edinburgh 1973-09-07
69.44 Suzanne Powell La Jolla 2002-04-27
68.72 Daniela Costian Auckland 1994-01-22
68.52 Beatrice Faumuina Oslo 1997-07-04
68.18 Tatyana Lesovaya Alma Ata 1982-09-23
67.72 Ekateríni Vóggoli Athens 2004-06-10
67.48 Meg Ritchie Walnut 1981-04-26
67.02 Ulla Lundholm Helsinki 1983-08-23
66.48 Marta Kripli Budapest 1986-08-11
66.18 Renata Katewicz Lodz 1988-08-07
65.78 Melina Robert-Michon Salon-de-Provence 2002-07-17
65.40 Teresa Machado San Jacinto 1998-05-03
65.06 Malda Lange Valmeira 1988-09-11
65.00 Elju Kubi Tallin 1987-08-26
64.84 Seema Antil Kiev 2004-08-08
64.54 Anna Söderberg Aremark 1999-07-31
64.25 Oksana Andrusina-Mert Krasnodar 1999-05-30
64.20 Natela Labadze Dnepropetrovsk 1980-09-08

See also

External links

Notes



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