Tiger Classic
April 7, 2008
Auburn University has one of the nicest track and field facilities in the country. I had the privilege of competing there this weekend. The weather didn’t want to cooperate, with off and on rain showers. But that didn’t stop the meet or the fans from from having a good time.
The meet was extra special for me because I had some family in attendance. My brother and sister in law were able to make it, they had a long drive from Texas. My mom and son were there cheering as well.
I finished in 1st place, I didn’t throw as far as I wanted but we didn’t have the best conditions. Because of the rain slowing things down, we started really late and had to deal with rain and darkness.
Life in Auburn, AL
April 2, 2008
My son and my mom are here with me in AL while I am training for the Olympics and it has been awesome having them here. I am able to watch Theo grow and my mom helps take care of him while I am training. Theo is crawling all over the place and trying to walk. He has a toy walker that he flies all over the house pushing. It won’t be long before he starts walking. He has more teeth coming in each month.
Olympic Facts
March 26, 2008
Olympic Facts
USA 5-Rings
USA 5-Rings is the symbol that represents the United States Olympic Team. America’s top athletes wear the logo proudly as they represent the USA at the Olympic Games. The logo is made up of the letters “USA,” the common abbreviation for the United States of America, and the Olympic Rings logo. The United States of America has been competing in the Olympic Games since 1896, the beginning of the modern Olympic Games.
Olympic Rings
The Olympic Rings were created by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1913 and first displayed on the Olympic Flag in 1920. The Olympic symbol of five interlocked 
America (North & South), Asia, Australia, Europe and the meeting of the athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.
The five colors of the rings blue, black and red (top) and yellow and green (bottom) were chosen since one of these colors can be found in the flag of each competing nation. Creed
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”-The words of the Olympic creed are attributed to Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games.
Motto
The Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” is Latin for “Faster, Higher, Braver,” but is universally accepted to mean “Swifter, Higher, Stronger.”
Oath
The Olympic oath is a symbolic gesture of sportsmanship that traces its origins to the 1920 Olympic Games. One athlete from the host country takes the oath at Opening Ceremonies on behalf of all the athletes.Oath: “In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.”
Victory Ceremony
The greatest honor for an Olympic athlete is to particpate in a Victory Cermony. At the conclusion of each competition, the top three athletes are placed on a podium (see below) as medals are presented to the first, second and third-place finishers. The winner stands in the middle at the highest elevation; the runner-up stands slightly below to the victor’s right; and the third-place finisher stands at the lowest elevation to the left of the victor.In addition, each athlete’s flag is placed in the same fashion on beams and upon being raised the winner’s anthem is played.
Medals
The medals - gold, silver, and bronze - represent the highest levels of athletic achievement at the Games. The design of the medal varies with each Olympic Games and they are the responsibility of the host city’s organizing committee. Olympic medals must be at least 60 millimeters in diameter and at least three millimeters thick. Gold and silver medals must be made of 92.5 percent pure silver; the gold medal must be gilded with at least six grams of gold.
Torch & Flame
One of the most enduring symbols of the Olympic Games is the Olympic flame. The flame made its first appearance at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games and since then the lighting of the flame has become a major focal point of every Opening Ceremonies. The concept of lighting a flame for the duration of the Games comes from the ancient Greeks, who used a flame lit by the sun’s rays at Olympia - the site of the original Olympic Games. Olympic Hymn
The Olympic Hymn is played when the Olympic Flag is raised. The music was composed by Spirou Samara. The words were added by Costic of Greece in 1896.Ancient Immortal Spirit, chaste Father
Of all that is Beauty, Grandeur and Truth
Descending appear with Thy presence
Illuminate Thine Earth and the Heavens.Shine upon noble endeavors wrought
at the Games on Track and in the Field.
Crown with thy eternal evergreen branch
The bodies, making them stronger and worthy.Dale, Mount and Ocean, with Thy Light,
Is a white a purple temple, brighten!
To thine Temple, to Thy Worship, come all.
Oh! Ancient Eternal Spirit!
Mascots
Olympic Games mascots are selected by the local organizing committee of the host city. The first official Olympic mascot dates back to the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich with Waldi the dachshund, a popular Bavarian dog.In the United States, previous mascots have included Roni the raccoon at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, Sam the eagle at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, and Izzy the animated character at the 1996 Atlanta Games. The 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games mascots were Powder, the snowshoe hare; Copper, the coyote; and Coal, the American black bear.In 1994, the Lillehammer Organizing Committee was the first organization to base their mascots on historical human figures naming Hakon and Kristine after royal children from the 13th century. Nagano featured four Îsnowlets’ based on the motif of an owl. Most recently, Sydney’s mascots were: Millie, the spiny anteater; Syd, the duck-billed platypus; and Olly, the kookaburra bird.
Olympiad
The term “Olympiad” refers to the four year interval between the Olympic Games, which was first used by the ancient Greeks in reckoning dates. The Olympiads are numbered consecutively from the first Olympic Games (or The I Olympiad), held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Even the Games cancelled by the wars of 1916, 1940 and 1944 are counted. Most recently held were The Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, Australia. The XXVIII Olympiad will mark a return to Athens, Greece in 2004. However, the term Olympiad is not used in conjunction with the Olympic Winter Games, which are numbered only when they are actually held.
Quadrennium
The U.S. Olympic Committee refers to the Olympiad, same four-year cycle, as the “quadrennium.” On January 1, 2004, the USOC will enter the 2004-2008 quadrennium.
Javelin Throw Introduction
March 26, 2008
Javelin Throw Introduction
Hercules is reputed to have been one of the earliest javelin throwers. The event was introduced in the Games of 708 BC in two forms: throwing at a target and distance throwing using a sling. The original javelin was made of olive wood, measuring between 2.30m and 2.40m with a weight of 400 grams.
The Scandinavians adopted the event around 1780 and the javelin underwent an astounding growth, becoming a symbol of national independence for the Finns. In those days the javelin measured 2.60m, weighed 800 grams (as it does today), and was of birch wood.
The ancient style of throwing whilst on the run replaced freestyle techniques as did the measuring of single hand efforts as opposed to ‘both hands’ aggregates.
In 1952 the throw line became an arc, as opposed to a straight line, and throws began to be measured from point of impact to the inside edge of the throwing arc.
In 1953 Franklin “Bud” Held (USA) invented a hollow javelin, which increased the surface area of the javelin by 27%, greatly increasing its flight capability and causing the javelin to land horizontally, revolutionising the event. In 1954 Held developed a metal variant, which went further still.
In 1966 the Spaniard Felix Erausquin threw over 100 metres using a rotational technique, which was banned by the IAAF as too dangerous. The 100m barrier was broken again in 1984 by Uwe Hohn. The IAAF then established new rules for the construction of the javelin to ensure shorter flight times and point first landings (safer and easier to measure). In 1991 the rules were changed to disqualify a new type of javelin with a ‘rough’ or corrugated tail design.
The first women’s marks were recorded in Finland as early as 1909. Originally, a javelin weighing 800g was used but this was later standardised at 600g. The first IAAF world record dates back to 1932, the year in which the event made its Olympic debut. A new specification women’s javelin, in which the centre of gravity was moved forward by 30cm to obtain a flight similar to the men’s implement and to avoid flat landings, was introduced in April 1999, previous records being scrapped.
Women Landmarks
Landmarks
First official world record: 46.74 Nan Gindele USA 1932
First over 50m: 50.32 Klavdiya Mayuchaya URS 1947
First over 60m: 61.38 Elvira Ozolina URS 1964
First over 70m: 70.08 Tatyana Biryulina URS 1980
First over 75m: 75.26 Petra Felke GDR 1985
First over 80m: 80.00 Petra Felke 1988
Most competitions over 75m: Petra Felke 13
With new specification javelin:
Inaugural world record: 67.09 Mirela Manjani-Tzelili GRE 1999
Click here for current World record
Superlatives
Most Olympic titles: 2 Ruth Fuchs GDR 1972/1976
Most World titles: 2 Trine Hattestad 1993/1997, Mirela Manjani-Tzelili 1999/2003; Osleidys Menendez 2001/2005
Youngest Olympic/World champion: Mihaela Penes ROM 1964 (17) Oldest: Herma Bauma AUT 1948 (33)
Three all time greats
Ruth Fuchs (GDR): The only two-time Olympic champion, she took the event to a new level with six world records, culminating in a somewhat frustrating 69.96m in 1980.
Petra Felke (GDR): Her world record distance of exactly 80m in 1988, prior to winning the Olympic title, was never approached and will never now be surpassed as records with the old javelin were scrapped in 1999.
Trine Hattestad (NOR): The bouncy Norwegian, the only woman to have collected two world javelin titles, reached 72.12m with the old model in 1993 and set had a (world record) best of 69.48m with the new spear.
Men Landmarks
Landmarks
First official world record: 62.32 Eric Lemming SWE 1912
First over 70m: 71.01 Erik Lundqvist SWE 1928
First over 80m: 80.41 Bud Held USA 1953
First over 90m: 91.72 Terje Pedersen NOR 1964
First over 100m: 104.80 Uwe Hohn GDR 1984
With current specification javelin:
First over 90m: 91.46 Steve Backley GBR 1992
Click here for current World record
Most durable world record: 78.70 Yrjö Nikkanen FIN 1938 (14 years)
Most competitions over 90m (current specification): Ján Zelezny 34 (as at 16 Oct 2002)
Superlatives
Most Olympic titles: 3 Eric Lemming 1906/1908/1912
3 Ján Zelezny 1992/1996/2000
Most World titles: 3 Ján Zelezny 1993/1995/2001
Youngest Olympic/World champion: Erik Lundqvist 1928 (20) Oldest: Ján Zelezny CZE 2000 (34)
Three all time greats
Matti Järvinen (FIN): Son of the 1906 Olympic Greek-style discus champion, he raised the world record from 71.01 to 77.23m during the thirties and struck Olympic gold in1932.
Janis Lusis (URS): The Latvian won four European titles between 1962 and 1971, gained a complete set of Olympic medals (gold in 1968) and set two world records.
Ján Zelezny (CZE): The current world record holder, also a multiple Olympic and world title winner, was so dominant in 1995 that he was responsible for 21 of the 22 throws that year over 89m.
Is it for me?
The javelin was originally a weapon for hunting and for war. It is lighter than the other classic throwing implements, but demands special technical skills. The javelin thrower must develop smooth acceleration with a fast run-up. The throwing arm must be fast and supple with a super-flexible elbow, while millimetric precision is necessary to release the javelin at the optimal angle. All this must be achieved without ignoring the considerable power required from the back, legs and arms during the whole movement. The javelin throwing action can be compared to that of a whip: the thrower’s body becomes the handle, the javelin the lash.
Hammer Throw Introduction
March 26, 2008
Hammer Throw Introduction
This event, born of ancient traditions, initially took the form of a free style run from which a rigid hammer was thrown (a wooden handle with a cast iron ball on the end).
Following this, the current seven foot (2.13m) diameter circle was introduced. In 1887 the weight of the hammer was fixed at 16 pounds (7.26kg) with a wire, of between 1.175m and 1.215m in length attached to a grip, replacing the wooden handle. The throwing style most often used involves three (or four) rotations around the load bearing foot in a heel-toe-heel sequence.
The utilisation of a concrete base for throwing increased the possible speed of rotation and the use of wolfram and tungsten for the head of the hammer - thereby reducing the diameter (minimum today is 110mm) - helped increase the distances thrown from the 1950s.
The first recorded women’s marks date back to 1931 in Spain but it was only as recently as 1982 that anyone threw even 40m. The hammer used weighs 4kg (same as the shot) and the IAAF began ratifying women’s world records in 1995. The event attained senior World Championship status from 1999 and made its Olympic bow in Sydney.
Women Landmarks
Landmarks
First over 60m: 61.20 Aya Suzuki JPN 1989
First over 65m: 65.40 Olga Kuzenkova RUS 1992
First official world record: 66.84 Olga Kuzenkova 1994
First over 70m: 71.22 Olga Kuzenkova 1997
First over 75m: 75.97 Mihaela Melinte ROM 1999
Click here for current World record
Click here for ALL-TIME lists
Most competitions over 72m: Mihaela Melinte 22 (as at 7 Sep 2000)
First world champion: Mihaela Melinte 1999.
Most World titles - Yipsi Moreno CUB 2001/2003
Event Pioneer
Olga Kuzenkova (RUS): The inaugural world record holder with 66.84m in 1994, Kuzenkova was the fledgling event’s trail blazer and was first to reach 70m officially in 1997. Silver medallist in both 1999 and 2001 World Championships and at 2000 Olympic Games, and European champion in 2002.
Men Landmarks
Landmarks
First official world record: 57.77 Pat Ryan USA 1913
First over 60m: 60.34 József Csérmák HUN 1952
First over 200ft: 61.25 Sverre Strandli NOR 1952
First over 70m: 70.33 Hal Connolly USA 1960
First over 75m: 75.48 Anatoliy Bondarchuk URS 1969
First over 80m: 80.14 Boris Zaychuk URS 1978
First over 85m: 86.34 Yuriy Sedykh URS 1984
Click here for current World record
Click here for ALL-TIME lists
Most durable world record: 57.77 Pat Ryan 1913 (24 years)
Most competitions over 80m: Yuriy Sedykh 77
Superlatives
Most Olympic titles: 3 John Flanagan USA 1900/1904/1908
Most World titles:
2 Sergey Litvinov URS 1983/1987
2 Andrey Abduvaliyev TJK 1993/1995
Youngest Olympic/World champion: József Csérmák 1952 (20) Oldest: Yuriy Sedykh 1991 (36)
Three all time greats
John Flanagan (USA): The Irish-born American completed a hat trick of Olympic titles and set nineteen world bests between 1895 and 1909.
Pat Ryan (USA): Another of the Irish-Americans who dominated the early years of the event, his 57.77m in 1913 went unbeaten until 1937. He was Olympic champion in 1920.
Yuriy Sedykh (URS): World record holder on and off since 1980, he has 21 individual throws over 85m to his name and was Olympic champion in 1976 and1980.
Is it for me?
Throwing the hammer is an exercise that dates back to ancient times, but for a long time it only attracted a minority of athletes who were big, bulky and vigorous. Today, the reign of the giants is over and the hammer attracts champions with a sturdy physique, perfect technique and a full range of athletic qualities - speed, relaxation, strength and suppleness. In this event, success depends upon how resistant the thrower is to centrifugal force, and hence to the pull of the hammer, when spinning at great speed within the hammer circle. Hammer throwers may seem like convicts riveted to their ball and chains, but they can break free at will.
Shot Put Introduction
March 26, 2008
Shot Put Introduction
Homer makes mention of competitions of rock throwing by soldiers during the siege of Troy. In the XVI century King Henry VIII was noted for his prowess in court competitions of weight and hammer throwing and in the XVII century English soldiers organized cannonball throwing competitions.
The rules of the competition were first established in 1860, when the throw had to be made from a square with sides of seven feet (2.13m). This was replaced in 1906 by a seven foot diameter circle. The weight of the shot was fixed at 16 pounds (7.257 kg). Bent arm throws were outlawed for being too dangerous and competitors had to hold the shot in the crook of the neck prior to release.
The sidestep action in the circle was invented in the United States in 1876.In 1951 Parry O’Brien (USA) refined a new technique. From a start position facing the back of the circle, O’Brien rotated 180 degrees to move across the circle before making the final release. This helped him become the first to break the 18m (and subsequently the 19m) barrier.
In 1976 Aleksandr Baryshnikov pioneered the rotational technique, similar to that used by discus throwers, which has become increasingly popular.
A women’s shot put competition with a 4 kg implement was first held in France in 1917. The inaugural IAAF world record dates back to 1934 with the event making its Olympic debut in 1948. Until 1927 women’s contests were also held with shots weighing 8 pounds and 5 kilograms.
Women Landmarks
Landmarks
First official world record: 14.38 Gisela Mauermayer GER 1934
First over 16m: 16.00 Galina Zybina URS 1953
First over 18m: 18.55 Tamara Press URS 1962
First over 20m: 20.09 Nadezhda Chizhova URS 1969
First over 22m: 22.32 Helena Fibingerová TCH 1977
First over 22.50m: 22.53 Natalya Lisovskaya URS 1984
Click here for current World record
Most durable world record: 22.63 Natalya Lisovskaya 1987 (13 years)
Most competitions over 22m: Ilona Slupianek 14
Superlatives
Most Olympic titles: 2 Tamara Press URS 1960/1964
Most World titles:
3 Astrid Kumbernuss GER 1995/1997/1999
Youngest Olympic/World champion: Galina Zybina 1952 (21) Oldest: Ivanka Khristova BUL 1976 (34)
Three all time greats
Nadezhda Chizhova (URS): The successor to Tamara Press as world record holder crashed through both the 20m (1969) and 21m barriers, the latter when winning the 1972 Olympic gold medal.
Natalya Lisovskaya (URS): Her world record of 22.63m, dating back to 1987, has not been seriously threatened; no one has been within a metre of it since 1990. Other honours included world & Olympic titles.
Astrid Kumbernuss (GER): A superb competitor, she won the Olympic crown in 1996 as well as three consecutive world titles, the first of them in 1995 by a record 1.18m margin.
Men Landmarks
Landmarks
First official world record: 15.54 Ralph Rose USA 1909
First over 17m: 17.40 Jack Torrance USA 1934
First over 60ft: 18.42 Parry O’Brien USA 1954
First over 20m: 20.06 Bill Nieder USA 1960
First over 70ft: 21.52 Randy Matson USA 1965
First over 22m: 22.00 Aleksandr Baryshnikov URS 1976
First over 23m: 23.06 Ulf Timmermann GDR 1988
Click here for current World record
Most durable world record:
15.54 Ralph Rose 1909 (18 years)
Most competitions over 22m: Ulf Timmermann 21
Superlatives
Most Olympic titles:
2 Ralph Rose 1904/1908
2 Parry O’Brien 1952/1956
Most World titles: 3 Werner Günthör SUI 1987/1991/1993 and 3 John Godina USA 1995/1997/2001
Youngest Olympic/World champion: Ralph Rose 1904 (19) Oldest: Wladyslaw Komar POL 1972 (32)
Some all time greats
Parry O’Brien (USA): Winner of 116 consecutive contests between 1952 and 1956, this 10.8 100m man lifted two Olympic titles and was the first over 18m and 19m.
Randy Matson (USA): When becoming the first 70ft thrower with 21.52m he was nearly a metre ahead of the next best ever; he was Olympic champion in 1968.
Werner Günthör (SUI): A former 2m high jumper, he was world champion in 1987,1991 and 1993, and put the shot over 22m for five successive years.
John Godina (USA): Three time world champion, Olympic silver in 1996 and bronze 2000. World indoor champion in 2001, silver in 1999 and bronze 1997.
Is it for me?
Shot putters must be big, have strong arms and legs and natural speed. They must summon the dynamic power to propel a heavy, metal ball (7.26 kg for men, 4 kg for women) as far as possible. Performance improvement will depend on improving this strength by various means, particularly weight lifting.
Introduction to the Discus Throw
March 26, 2008
Introduction to the discus
The ancient Greeks have described this event better than any other. They used stone and then bronze disks between two and six kilograms in weight and 21cm to 34cm in diameter.
The discus first appeared in the Ancient Games in 708 BC. In 1896 the discus was included in the revived Olympic Games in Athens. Throws were made from a pedestal that measured 60cm by 70cm. At the same time, the Swedes were throwing the discus from a 2.5m square.
In 1897, in the USA, the event took place in a seven foot diameter circle, increased to 2.50m in 1908. The discus itself was standardised in 1907 at 2kg in weight and 22cm in diameter.From the original static throw of 1900, styles evolved through the Nordic swinging throw to the current style, introduced by Clarence Houser (USA) in 1926, of turning and skipping before release. Both hands contests, where aggregates were recorded, were organised until the 1920s, when single hand contests became the norm.
In 1954 the concrete throwing circle was introduced, greatly increasing the possible speed of rotation.The first recorded women’s results, with a discus weighing 1.25kg, date back to 1914 (USA) with contests also held around the world using 1.5kg implements. A standard 1kg discus was adopted for the Olympic Games in 1928 while the IAAF ratified its first official world record in 1936.
Women Landmarks
Landmarks
First official world record: 48.31 Gisela Mauermayer GER 1936
First over 50m: 50.50 Nina Dumbadze URS 1946
First over 60m: 61.26 Liesel Westermann FRG 1967
First over 65m: 65.42 Faina Melnik URS 1972
First over 70m: 70.20 Faina Melnik 1975
First over 75m: 76.80 Gabriele Reinsch GDR 1988
Click here for current World record
Most durable world record: 76.80 Gabriele Reinsch 1988 (12 years)
Most competitions over 72m: Diana Gansky GDR 7
Superlatives
Most Olympic titles:
2 Nina Ponomaryova URS 1952/1960
2 Evelin Jahl GDR 1976/1980
Most World titles: 2 Martina Hellmann GDR 1983/1987
Youngest Olympic/World champion: Evelin Jahl 1976 (20) Oldest: Lia Manoliu ROM 1968 (36)
Three all time greats
Lia Manoliu (ROM): At her fifth Games (1968) she became at 36 the oldest of all women’s Olympic champions and went on to compete in 1972 for a record sixth appearance.
Faina Melnik (URS): The 1972 Olympic champion established 11 world records between 1971 and 1976, record number ten being a barrier-breaking 70.20m.
Evelin Jahl (GDR): Only 20 when, as Evelin Schlaak, she lifted her first Olympic crown in 1976, she won again four years later. In between those successes she set world records of 70.72m and 71.50m.
Men Landmarks
Landmarks
First official world record: 47.58 James Duncan USA 1912
First over 50m: 51.03 Eric Wenz USA 1930
First over 55m: 55.33 Adolfo Consolini ITA 1948
First over 60m: 60.56 Jay Silvester USA 1961
First over 200ft: 61.10 Al Oerter USA 1962
First over 65m: 65.22 Ludvik Danek TCH 1965
First over 70m: 70.24 Mac Wilkins USA 1976
First over 72/73/74m: 74.08 Jürgen Schult GDR 1986
Click here for current World record
Click here for ALL-TIME lists
Most durable world record: 74.08 Jürgen Schult 1986 (16 years)
Most competitions over 70m: Mac Wilkins 10
Superlatives
Most Olympic titles: 4 Al Oerter 1956/1960/1964/1968
Most World titles: 5 Lars Riedel GER 1991/1993/1995/1997/2001
Youngest Olympic/World champion: Al Oerter 1956 (20) Oldest: Ludvik Danek 1972 (35)
Three all time greats
Al Oerter (USA): One of the greatest of all Olympic competitors with his four gold medals over a 12-year span. A former world record breaker, he produced his longest throw of 69.46m in 1980 when aged 43!
Jürgen Schult (GER): Winner of Olympic, world and European titles, he has been world record holder with 74.08m since 1986 - and at 40 remains a world class competitor.
Lars Riedel (GER): Olympic champion in 1996 (by a massive 2.80m margin), he also won four consecutive world titles in the 1990s. A hip muscle injury held him back to third place when bidding for a fifth in 1999, something which he finally achieved in 2001, when he won World gold again in Edmonton.
Is it for me?
The discus is a throw without utilitarian value, a child’s game for all ages. This ballet without music has fascinated since remote antiquity, when great sculptors used the discus thrower to symbolise athletics. The discus thrower must add a wide reach, speed on the turn and a sense of rhythm to the shot putter’s sturdy skills. Success means taking advantage of the centrifugal force engendered by whirling inside a concrete circle 2.50 metre in diameter before a final energetic release. The whole body contributes to the action. The discus thrower is a dancer who performs the most complex and beautiful choreography in athletics.
For the Expert
Athletes with exceptional rhythm and orienting capabilities are especially well suited to discus throwing. They must also posses musculature with great speed strength and the shoulder and chest muscles are of primary importance in the final acceleration of the discus. Good hip, trunk and shoulder flexibility is also advantageous.
External influences in discus throwing
The men’s discus was standardized to a weight of 2 kg and diameter of 22 cm in 1907. Women’s discus was not included in the Olympic Games until 1928 and weighs 1 kg. Since 1928 the discus is thrown from a 2. 5 m diameter throwing circle. This requirement limits the possibilities of giving the discus the necessary initial acceleration. The one and a half turn technique prior to release has become universally established with the world’s best despite some attempts with two or more turns. The movements of the athlete include a flight or transfer phase which introduces the decisive release phase. The quality of the execution of the rotating movements is considerably influenced by the characteristics of the throwing circle. Improved conditions are provided for accelerating the discus when the friction is greatest. The friction between the athlete’s shoes and the throwing circle is especially reduced during rain which leads to the risk of slipping. It is therefore, very difficult to provide the required standing stability during the main accelerating phase prior to release. Wind conditions in the stadium influence the discus flight. Head wind generally improves the distance rather than tail wind. The discus must land in a 40° sector.
Biomechanical factors in discus throwing
In the movement sciences the athlete’s rotation movements are divided into
1 two-legged start phase pre-acceleration
2 one-legged start phase pre-acceleration
3 stance release transfer
4 one-legged release phase final acceleration
5 two-legged release phase final acceleration
The two-legged release phase is of major importance as it represents the main accelerating phase of the discus. Approximately 70% of the release velocity are produced by the thrower during this movement phase. The execution of the final acceleration phase is of special movement technical importance because the release velocity is the characteristic with the greatest influence upon the distance thrown. All prior movements serve to prepare the final acceleration. Starting swing, start phase and the transfer lead the thrower into the so-called power position. In this phase the discus already experiences a pre-acceleration up to 30% of its final velocity. The temporal pattern of the movement sequences is performed individually different. It is, however, amazing which consistency world class athletes demonstrate in their movement rhythm. This excludes the possibility of making universal recommendations for the rhythm. However, it would also be incorrect to neglect the pre-acceleration phases because of their small influence upon the throwing performance. An optimal power position can only be achieved if these are executed safely and reproducibly.
The power position itself must provide beneficial conditions to facilitate an optimal throw. The discus should be accelerated to a velocity of about 80 km/h over the longest possible acceleration path while utilizing the pre-stretched chest and shoulder musculature. The relationship “greater release velocity = greater distance” only has theoretical validity. There is an individual optimum as seen in the long jump or triple jump. It is therefore, quite possible to release the discus at an excessive velocity. This usually results in an uncontrolled throw with negative influences upon the other performance determining characteristics and consequently the distance thrown.
The point of release should be as high as possible above the ground. This represents one of the few differences between men’s and women’s discus. Female throwers achieve lower release heights due to their smaller stature. A controversial theme is whether the release itself should be performed with both feet in contact with the ground. The “jumping throw” in which ground contact is lost prior to release is seen primarily in the men’s discus. From a biomechanical perspective the “standing jump” as performed by Lars Riedel (GER) and the world record holder Jürgen Schult (GER) and also the majority of elite female throwers is to be preferred. It is only possible to accelerate the discus up until the last instance prior to release if a solid ground contact is present. An optimal twisting of the shoulders relative to the hips and a throwing arm held far back are prerequisites for a good acceleration out of the power position.
Next to release height and velocity a third factor influencing the distance thrown is the release angle. At the elite level this lies between 33 and 38°. No data is available describing the extent to which throwers can adapt the release angle to the present wind conditions.
Training with coach Jerry Clayton
March 26, 2008
I have been training with coach in Auburn, AL at Auburn University for a few weeks and it has been awesome.
Having a training partner (Kristin Heaston, USA Olympian women’s shot put) to train with has been very exciting.
We are able to push each other harder in the workouts. Even though the workouts are hard enough the way coach writes them, we some how find a way to make them harder having mini competitions in our training exercises.
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