Discus. The ancient Greeks considered the rhythm and precision of an athlete throwing the discus as important as his strength. The discus was made of stone, iron, bronze, or lead, and was
shaped like a flying saucer
. Sizes varied, since the boys’ division was not expected to throw the same weight as the mens’.
How did the ancient Greeks throw the discus?
Throwing the discus was one of the five events of the pentathlon. Originally the discus was made of stone, later of bronze, lead or iron. …
With his right hand he swung the discus a few times back and forth
. He slightly turned his body with the movement of the swing.
How heavy was an ancient discus?
Often engraved with picturesque scenes or poetry, discuses were made first of stone and later of iron, lead or even bronze. It seems that the set weight of the discus varied from Games to Games, with discoveries ranging from weights of
1.3-6.6kg
and diameters of 17-32cm.
What was a discus made of?
It is made of
wood or similar material, with a smooth metal rim and small, circular brass plates set flush into its sides
. Its weight must be not less than 2 kg (4.4 pounds). A discus event was included when women’s track and field was added to the Olympic program in 1928.
How old is the discus throw?
A brief history of discus throw
It was introduced in the ancient Greek pentathlon event — running, long jump, discus throw, javelin throw, and wrestling — and can be
dated back to 708 BC
. The discipline would be later re-discovered by Christian Georg Kohlrausch and his students in the 1870s.
Who is the best discus thrower in the world?
| Rank Mark Competitor | 1 74.08 Jürgen SCHULT | 2 73.88 Virgilijus ALEKNA | 3 73.38 Gerd KANTER | 4 71.86 Yuriy DUMCHEV |
|---|
Why does the discus thrower throw before throwing?
Once the discus is in the air it continues to spin. The spin
helps the discuss catch and ride the wind to go farther
. If the athlete released the discus at the right point, the discus will land in the cone-shaped throwing sector. If the discus lands outside that sector, the throw won’t count.
What is the farthest discus throw ever?
| Athletics Discus throw | German 2012 Olympic champion Robert Harting. | World records | Men Jürgen Schult ( GDR ) 74.08 m (243 ft 1⁄2 in) (1986) | Women Gabriele Reinsch ( GDR ) 76.80 m (251 ft 11 in) (1988) |
|---|
Who holds the world record in the shot put?
American Ryan Crouser
holds the current men’s shot put world record after he threw 76 feet, 8 1⁄4 inches at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June. Crouser also set the Olympic record at the 2016 Rio Games with a 73 foot, 10 1⁄2 inch throw to win gold.
Is the discus a weapon?
The throwing events—discus, javelin, and shot put—are all events in a track meet. At one point, all of these items were used as weapons. The discus emanated from the
Australian boomerang
, which was a weapon used by the Aboriginals to hunt animals. … Thus, a faster weapon was needed.
What was discus originally used for?
The Greek discus was a throwing disc used during the pentathlon, an event featured at the ancient Olympic Games, Nemean Games, and Pythian Games. The Greek word diskos originally meant
“a thing thrown
,” though over the years, its definition in ancient Greek culture had evolved to denote a specific object.
What was the point of the ancient pentathlon?
The Greeks invented the pentathlon competition, to show the best and most versatile athletes to the ancient Hellas.
What is a good distance for discus?
120 feet
is the entry point to high-level discus throwing. If you are serious about getting to the next level with your throws, these are essential weight room numbers to hit. Always remember however that these numbers are averages. Some throwers may not get close to these numbers and be able to throw over 120 feet.
Who holds the world record for women’s discus?
The farthest discus throw by a female is 76.80 metres (251 feet 11 inches), achieved by
Gabriele Reinsch (East Germany)
on 9 July 1988 in Neubrandenburg, Germany.
Who holds the javelin world record?
Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic
holds the current world record (with the redesigned javelin) of 98.48 metres. Four-time Olympic medallist Zelezny achieved the milestone in 1996.
How did Discus Throw start?
Discus throwing dates
back to the ancient Greek Olympic Games
, as depicted in this Fifth Century B.C. statue from the British Museum, “Discobolus,” by the sculptor Myron. … The early discs were made of unwrought bronze and iron and were apparently heavier than today’s competitive discus.
