Discus throw

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The discus throw ({{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "En-us-discus.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler), also known as disc throw, is a track and field event in which the participant athlete throws an oblate spheroid weightTemplate:Snd called a discusTemplate:Snd in an attempt to mark a further distance than other competitors. It is an ancient sport, as demonstrated by the fifth-century-BC Myron statue Discobolus. Although not part of the current pentathlon, it was one of the events of the ancient Greek pentathlon, which can be dated back to at least 708 BC,[1] and it is part of the modern decathlon.

History

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File:Diskuskastare Gbg - Alkamenes.jpg
Modern copy of the Diskophoros, attributed to Alkamenes

The sport of throwing the discus traces back to it being an event in the original Olympic Games of Ancient Greece.[2] The discus as a sport was resurrected in Magdeburg, Germany, by gymnastics teacher Christian Georg Kohlrausch and his students in the 1870s.[3] Organized men's competition was resumed in the late 19th century, and has been a part of the modern Summer Olympic Games since the first modern competition, the 1896 Summer Olympics. Images of discus throwers figured prominently in advertising for early modern Games, such as fundraising stamps for the 1896 Games, and the main posters for the 1920 and 1948 Summer Olympics. Today the sport of discus is a routine part of modern track-and-field meets at all levels, and retains a particularly iconic place in the Olympic Games.

File:1920 olympics poster.jpg
The main poster for the 1920 Summer Olympics

The first modern athlete to throw the discus while rotating the whole body was František Janda-Suk from Bohemia (the present Czech Republic).[4] Janda-Suk invented this technique when studying the position of the statue of Discobolus. After a year of developing the technique, he earned a silver medal in the 1900 Olympics.

Women's competition began in the first decades of the 20th century. Following competition at national and regional levels, it was added to the Olympic program for the 1928 games.

Regulations

The event consists of throwing a heavy disc, with the weight or size depending on the competitor. Men and women throw different sized discs, with varying sizes and weights depending on age. The weight of the discus is either governed by World Athletics for international or USA Track & Field for the United States.

In the United States, Henry Canine advocated for a lighter-weight discus in high school competition. His suggestion was adopted by the National High School Athletic Association in 1938.[5]

US Weights[6]
Age Men Women
High School 1.6 kg 1 kg
Collegiate 2 kg 1 kg
Professional 2 kg 1 kg
Master's (35–59) 1.5 kg 1 kg
Master's (60–74) 1 kg 1 kg
Master's (75+) 1 kg 0.75 kg
International Weights[7]
Age Men Women
≤17 1.5 kg 1 kg
18–19 1.75 kg 1 kg
20–49 2 kg 1 kg
50–59 1.5 kg 1 kg
60–74 1 kg 1 kg
75+ 1 kg 0.75 kg
File:Sport discus for men (2 kg) IAAF certified.jpg
Discus (2 kg), World Athletics certified for competitions
File:Sport discus for men (2 kg) IAAF certified, side view.jpg
Side view
File:Discus longitudinal section.svg
Longitudinal section (schematic)

The typical discus has sides made of plastic, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber or metal with a metal rim and a metal core to attain the weight. The rim must be smooth, with no roughness or finger holds. 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. However, a higher rim weight, if thrown correctly, can lead to a longer throw. In some competitions, a solid rubber discus is used (see in the United States).

To make a throw, the competitor starts in a circle of Template:T&Fcalc diameter, which is recessed in a concrete pad by Template:Convert. The thrower typically takes an initial stance facing away from the direction of the throw. They then spin anticlockwise (for right-handers) <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄2 times while staying within the circle to build momentum before releasing the discus. The discus must land within a 34.92º circular sector that is centered on the throwing circle.[8] The rules of competition for discus are virtually identical to those of shot put, except that the circle is larger, a stop board is not used and there are no form rules concerning how the discus is to be thrown.

The basic motion is a fore-handed sidearm movement. The discus is spun off the index finger or the middle finger of the throwing hand. In flight the disc spins clockwise when viewed from above for a right-handed thrower, and anticlockwise for a left-handed thrower. As well as achieving maximum momentum in the discus on throwing, the discus' distance is also determined by the trajectory the thrower imparts, as well as the aerodynamic behavior of the discus. Generally, throws into a moderate headwind achieve the maximum distance. Also, a faster-spinning discus imparts greater gyroscopic stability. The technique of discus throwing is quite difficult to master and needs much experience to perfect; thus most top throwers are 30 years old or more.

The discus throw is sometimes contested indoors, but it is not included at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. World Athletics used to keep "world indoor best" discus records, but since 2023 they now combine both indoor and outdoor marks.[9][10]

File:Discobolus Kleomelos Louvre G111.jpg
Discus-thrower, tondo of a kylix by the Kleomelos Painter, Louvre Museum
File:Discus Thrower Copenhagen.jpg
Modern copy of Myron's Discobolus in University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden, Denmark

Phases

The discus technique can be broken down into phases. The purpose is to transfer from the back to the front of the throwing circle while turning through one and a half circles. The speed of delivery is high, and speed is built up during the throw (slow to fast). Correct technique involves the buildup of torque so that maximum force can be applied to the discus on delivery.[11]

File:DiscusRutgerSmith6551.jpg
Rutger Smith in phases of the discus throw

Initially, the thrower takes up their position in the throwing circle, distributing their body weight evenly over both feet, which are roughly shoulder width apart. They crouch in order to adopt a more efficient posture to start from whilst also isometrically preloading their muscles; this will allow them to start faster and achieve a more powerful throw. They then begin the wind-up, which sets the tone for the entire throw; the rhythm of the wind-up and throw is very important.

Focusing on rhythm can bring about the consistency to get in the right positions that many throwers lack. Executing a sound discus throw with solid technique requires perfect balance. This is due to the throw being a linear movement combined with a one and a half rotation and an implement at the end of one arm. Thus, a good discus thrower needs to maintain balance within the circle.[12]

For a right handed thrower, the next stage is to move the weight over the left foot. From this position the right foot is raised, and the athlete 'runs' across the circle. There are various techniques for this stage where the leg swings out to a small or great extent, some athletes turn on their left heel (e.g. Ilke Wylluda[13]) but turning on the ball of the foot is far more common.

The aim is to land in the 'power position', the right foot should be in the center and the heel should not touch the ground at any point. The left foot should land very quickly after the right. Weight should be mostly over the back foot with as much torque as possible in the body—so the right arm is high and far back. This is very hard to achieve.[14]

The critical stage is the delivery of the discus, from this 'power position' the hips drive through hard, and will be facing the direction of the throw on delivery. Athletes employ various techniques to control the end-point and recover from the throw, such as fixing feet (to pretty much stop dead[13]), or an active reverse spinning onto the left foot (e.g. Virgilijus Alekna[15]).

Sports scientist Richard Ganslen researched the Aerodynamics of the Discus, reporting the discus will stall at an angle of 29°.[16]

Culture

The discus throw has been the subject of a number of well-known ancient Greek statues and Roman copies such as the Discobolus and Discophoros. The discus throw also appears repeatedly in ancient Greek mythology, featured as a means of manslaughter in the cases of Hyacinth, Crocus, Phocus, and Acrisius, and as a named event in the funeral games of Patroclus.

Discus throwers have been selected as a main motif in numerous collectors' coins. One of the recent samples is the €10 Greek Discus commemorative coin, minted in 2003 to commemorate the 2004 Summer Olympics. On the obverse of the coin a modern athlete is seen in the foreground in a half-turned position, while in the background an ancient discus thrower has been captured in a lively bending motion, with the discus high above his head, creating a vivid representation of the sport.

All-time top 25

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Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 discus throw marks and the top 25 athletes:
- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 discus throw marks
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 discus throw marks, by repeat athletes
- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 discus throw marks

Men

Ath.# Perf.# Mark Athlete Nation Date Place Template:Refh
1 1 Template:T&FcalcR Mykolas Alekna Template:Flagu 13 April 2025 Ramona [19]
2 Template:T&FcalcR M. Alekna #2Template:Efn 13 April 2025 Ramona [19]
2 3 Template:T&FcalcR Matthew Denny Template:Flagu 13 April 2025 Ramona [19]
4 Template:T&FcalcR M. Alekna #3 14 April 2024 Ramona [20]
5 Template:T&FcalcR Denny #2 10 April 2025 Ramona [21]
3 6 Template:T&FcalcR Jürgen Schult Template:Flagu 6 June 1986 Neubrandenburg
4 7 Template:T&FcalcR Virgilijus Alekna Template:Flagu 3 August 2000 Kaunas
5 8 Template:T&FcalcR Gerd Kanter Template:Flagu 4 September 2006 Helsingborg
6 9 Template:T&FcalcR Kristjan Čeh Template:Flagu 31 May 2025 Slovenska Bistrica [22]
10 Template:T&FcalcR Čeh #2 24 May 2025 Zagreb [23]
11 Template:T&FcalcR M. Alekna #4 2 August 2025 Palanga [24]
12 Template:T&FcalcR M. Alekna #5 30 May 2025 College Station [25]
13 Template:T&FcalcR Čeh #3 25 May 2025 Ptuj [26]
14 Template:T&FcalcR Denny #3 6 April 2025 Ramona [21]
15 Template:T&FcalcR Kanter #2 3 May 2007 Salinas
7 16 Template:T&FcalcR Ralford Mullings Template:Flagu 16 August 2025 Ramona [27]
17 Template:T&FcalcR Kanter #3 8 May 2008 Salinas
8 18 Template:T&FcalcR Yuriy Dumchev Template:Flagu 29 May 1983 Moscow
Daniel Ståhl Template:Flagu 29 June 2019 Bottnaryd [28]
20 Template:T&FcalcR Čeh #4 16 June 2023 Jõhvi [29]
10 21 Template:T&FcalcR Piotr Małachowski Template:Flagu 8 June 2013 Hengelo
11 22 Template:T&FcalcR Róbert Fazekas Template:Flagu 14 July 2002 Szombathely
23 Template:T&FcalcR M. Alekna #6 19 July 2025 London [30]
24 Template:T&FcalcR Kanter #4 25 June 2009 Kohila
25 Template:T&FcalcR V. Alekna #2 25 July 2007 Kaunas
12 Template:T&FcalcR Lars Riedel Template:Flagu 3 May 1997 Wiesbaden
13 Template:T&FcalcR Alex Rose Template:Flagu 11 May 2024 Allendale [31]
14 Template:T&FcalcR Ben Plucknett Template:Flagu 4 June 1983 Eugene [32]
15 Template:T&FcalcR Sam Mattis Template:Flagu 13 April 2025 Ramona [19]
16 Template:T&FcalcR John Powell Template:Flagu 9 June 1984 San Jose
Rickard Bruch Template:Flagu 15 November 1984 Malmö
Imrich Bugár Template:Flagu 25 May 1985 San Jose
19 Template:T&FcalcR Art Burns Template:Flagu 19 July 1983 San Jose
20 Template:T&FcalcR Wolfgang Schmidt Template:Flagu 9 August 1978 Berlin
21 Template:T&FcalcR Anthony Washington Template:Flagu 22 May 1996 Salinas
22 Template:T&FcalcR Luis Delís Template:Flagu 21 May 1983 Havana
23 Template:T&FcalcR Clemens Prüfer Template:Flagu 13 April 2025 Ramona [19]
24 Template:T&FcalcR Mac Wilkins Template:Flagu 9 July 1980 Helsinki
25 Template:T&FcalcR Aleksander Tammert Template:Flagu 15 April 2006 Denton [33]

Template:Notelist

Notable series

  • Matthew Denny had throws of 71.03, 73.46, 74.25, 72.93, 71.14 and 73.56 at the Oklahoma Throws Series in Ramona on 10 April 2025, becoming the second man to produce six throws above 70 meters in a single competition.[21] He achieved a series average of 72.72 m, which is the best in history.[34]
  • Mykolas Alekna had throws of 72.21, 70.32, 72.89, 70.51, 74.35 and 70.50 at the Oklahoma Throws Series in Ramona on 14 April 2024, becoming the first man to produce three throws above 72 meters (and six throws above 70 meters) in a single competition.[35]
  • Kristjan Čeh had throws of 71.86, 71.70 and 71.19 in Jõhvi on 16 June 2023 becoming the first man to have three throws above 71 metres in a single competition.[29]
  • At the 2019 Diamond League Meeting in Doha, Qatar, Daniel Ståhl became the first man to produce six throws beyond 69.50 in a single competition.[36]

Annulled marks

  • Ben Plucknett also threw a world record of 72.34 in Stockholm on 7 July 1981. This performance was annulled due to doping offences.
  • Kamy Keshmiri threw 70.84 in Salinas on 27 May 1992. This performance was annulled due to doping offences.

Non-legal marks

  • Rickard Bruch also threw 72.18 at an exhibition meeting in Piteå on 23 July 1974.
  • John Powell also threw 72.08 in Klagshamn on 11 September 1987, but the throw was made onto a sloping/downhill sector.

Women

Ath.# Perf.# Mark Athlete Nation Date Place Template:Refh
1 1 Template:T&FcalcR Gabriele Reinsch Template:Flagu 9 July 1988 Neubrandenburg
2 2 Template:T&FcalcR Zdeňka Šilhavá Template:Flagu 26 August 1984 Nitra
Ilke Wyludda Template:Flagu 23 July 1989 Neubrandenburg
4 Template:T&FcalcR Reinsch #2 13 September 1988 Berlin
5 Template:T&FcalcR Wyludda #2 13 September 1988 Berlin
4 6 Template:T&FcalcR Diana Gansky Template:Flagu 20 June 1987 Karl-Marx-Stadt
7 Template:T&FcalcR Gansky #2 27 June 1987 Prague
5 8 Template:T&FcalcR Daniela Costian Template:Flagu 30 April 1988 Bucharest
9 Template:T&FcalcR Costian #2 24 April 1988 Bucharest
6 10 Template:T&FcalcR Valarie Allman Template:Flagu 12 April 2025 Ramona [39]
11 Template:T&FcalcR Reinsch #3 12 June 1988 Karl-Marx-Stadt
7 12 Template:T&FcalcR Irina Meszynski Template:Flagu 17 August 1984 Prague
13 Template:T&FcalcR Gansky #2 11 June 1987 Neubrandenburg
8 14 Template:T&FcalcR Galina Savinkova Template:Flagu 8 September 1984 Donetsk
15 Template:T&FcalcR Savinkova #2 22 May 1983 Leselidze
Gansky #3 6 June 1986 Neubrandenburg
17 Template:T&FcalcR Gansky #4 29 May 1987 Leipzig
9 18 Template:T&FcalcR Tsvetanka Khristova Template:Flagu 19 April 1987 Kazanlak
19 Template:T&FcalcR Wyludda #3 13 September 1988 Berlin
10 20 Template:T&FcalcR Gisela Beyer Template:Flagu 20 July 1984 Berlin
11 21 Template:T&FcalcR Yaime Pérez Template:Flagu 13 April 2024 Ramona [40]
22 Template:T&FcalcR Gansky #5 6 June 1987 Potsdam
Wyludda #4 5 August 1989 Gateshead
24 Template:T&FcalcR Savinkova #3 23 June 1985 Erfurt
25 Template:T&FcalcR Gansky #6 9 July 1988 Neubrandenburg
12 Template:T&FcalcR Martina Hellmann Template:Flagu 20 August 1987 Potsdam
13 Template:T&FcalcR Galina Murashova Template:Flagu 17 August 1984 Prague
14 Template:T&FcalcR Mariya Vergova Template:Flagu 13 July 1980 Sofia
15 Template:T&FcalcR Xiao Yanling Template:Flagu 14 March 1992 Beijing
16 Template:T&FcalcR Ellina Zvereva Template:Flagu 12 June 1988 Leningrad
17 Template:T&FcalcR Evelin Jahl Template:Flagu 10 May 1980 Potsdam
18 Template:T&FcalcR Sandra Perković Template:Flagu 18 July 2017 Bellinzona [41]
19 Template:T&FcalcR Larisa Korotkevich Template:Flagu 29 May 1992 Sochi
20 Template:T&FcalcR Ria Stalman Template:Flagu 15 July 1984 Walnut
21 Template:T&FcalcR Hilda Ramos Template:Flagu 8 May 1992 Havana
22 Template:T&FcalcR Larisa Mikhalchenko Template:Flagu 18 June 1988 Kharkiv
23 Template:T&FcalcR Laulauga Tausaga Template:Flagu 12 April 2025 Ramona [39]
24 Template:T&FcalcR Maritza Martén Template:Flagu 18 July 1992 Seville
25 Template:T&FcalcR Denia Caballero Template:Flagu 20 June 2015 Bilbao [42]

Annulled marks

  • Daniela Costian of Romania threw a best of 73.48 in Bucharest on 30 April 1988. This performance was annulled due to doping offences.
  • Darya Pishchalnikova of Russia threw a best of 70.69 in Cheboksary on 5 July 2012. This performance was annulled due to doping offences.

Non-legal marks

  • Martina Hellmann also threw 78.14 at an unofficial meeting in Berlin on 6 September 1988.
  • Ilke Wyludda also threw 75.36 at an unofficial meeting in Berlin on 6 September 1988.

Olympic medalists

Men

Template:Olympic medalists in men's discus throw

Women

Template:Olympic medalists in women's discus throw

World Championships medalists

Men

Template:World Championships in Athletics medalists in men's discus throw

Women

Template:World Championships in Athletics medalists in women's discus throw

Season's bests

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See also

Notes and references

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project

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  14. ↑ Power position Template:Webarchive, about.com
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
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  17. ↑ Discus Throw - men - senior - outdoor. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-01-20.
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  37. ↑ Discus Throw - women - senior - outdoor. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-01-20.
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