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Discus Throw Circle Specifications

The discus throw is an Olympic track and field event with a history dating back to the Ancient Olympics, first included in the modern Olympics in 1896 for men and 1928 for women. Athletes throw a 2kg discus for men and 1kg for women from a 2.5m diameter circle, with specific rules governing fouls and scoring. The current world records are held by Jurgen Schult for men at 74.08m and Gabriele Reinsch for women at 76.80m.

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20 views5 pages

Discus Throw Circle Specifications

The discus throw is an Olympic track and field event with a history dating back to the Ancient Olympics, first included in the modern Olympics in 1896 for men and 1928 for women. Athletes throw a 2kg discus for men and 1kg for women from a 2.5m diameter circle, with specific rules governing fouls and scoring. The current world records are held by Jurgen Schult for men at 74.08m and Gabriele Reinsch for women at 76.80m.

Uploaded by

shakshi priya
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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Discus throw: Rules, regulations, records


and all you need to know
The discus throw is one of the four throwing events in track and
field at the Olympics.

4 min

By Samrat Chakraborty

20 May 2021 17:17 GMT+5:30

Athletics

(Getty Images)
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A brief history of discus throw


The discus throw, where a competitor hurls a heavy disc, was one of the events at the
Ancient Olympics**.** 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. The men's discus throw event then became a part of the Olympics
at the very first edition at Athens in 1896. The women's competition was included at
Amsterdam 1928.

The discus throw is also part of the modern decathlon.

It should also be noted that Frantisek Janda-Suk, a Czech athlete, was the first modern
athlete to throw the discus while rotating the whole body. The technique also helped him
earn a silver medal at the 1900 Olympics in Paris.

What is the weight of the discus and how is


it thrown?
The weight of the discus is fixed at 2kg for the men and 1kg for women. The metal disc is
basically thrown by an athlete by standing inside a circle with a diameter of 2.5m.

Discus throwers are not allowed to touch the top of rim of the throwing circle, but can
touch the inside edges of it. The athletes are also prohibited to touch the ground beyond
the circle. And if the athlete crosses the circle before the disc lands on the ground then it
is considered a foul throw.

There is also a particular boundary marked for landing the disc and if lands beyond then
the throw is considered invalid. Each athlete is given eight attempts at the Olympics to
mark their best possible throw.
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2:58

Sport guide: Throwing Discus

Discus throw rules and scoring system at


the Olympics
Athletes achieving the Olympic qualification mark represent the country at the Games.
Each country is allowed to send three discus throwers at the event.

From the qualifying event, only 12 athletes with the best throws can proceed to the final.
Every competitor is allowed three attempts to mark their best throw. Based on the initial
three attempts, the top eight are allowed another three chances and their positions are
decided based on the longest throw.

In case of a tie-breaker, the second-best throw, determines the winner.

The measurement is made from the first point where the discus breaks the ground to the
inside of the arc of the throwing circle with a tape. The officials hold the tape in such a
way that the zero end is at the point where the discus broke the field and then the
measuring tape is drawn to the centre of the throwing circle. However, the distance is
measured till the point where the tape crosses the inside edge of the circumference of
the circle.
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MUNICH, GERMANY - AUGUST 15: A detailed view of a discus held by Shanice Craft of Germany during the (Getty Images)
Athletics - Women's Discus Throw Qualification - Group A match on day 5 of the European Championships Munich
2022 at Olympiapark on August 15, 2022 in Munich, Germany.

Specifications and measurements of a


discus
The discus can be made of wood, plastic, fiberglass or metal with a circular edge and
metallic rim. It should be 22cm in diameter for men and 18cm for women. The inner
construction of the discus can either be solid or hollow while the cross section of the
edge should have a radius of 6mm.

The sides of the discus are identical and free from any sharp edges without any
irregularities in the design. The finishing of the disc should also be made smooth in order
to help the athletes to grip it properly.
Specifications of the cage around the
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throwing circle
The construction of the cage around the throwing circle is done for the purpose of safety
of the spectators from a misthrown discus. It should be made in such a way that it can
withhold a disc of nearly 2kg coming at a speed of 25m/sec. It should also be made in a
way that the discus doesn't rebound towards the athlete after hitting it.

The cage is made in 'U shape' and one side of it is open for the discus to pass. At the
lowest point the height of the netting point should be 4m and synthetic or natural fibre is
used.

What is the world record in discus throw?


1988 Olympic gold medallist Jurgen Schult holds the world record for men with a throw
of 74.08m, which he achieved in 1986. Gabriele Reinsch, who represented East Germany
at the 1988 Olympics, holds the record for women with a throw of 76.80m.

Virgilijus Alekna, meanwhile, holds the Olympic men’s record with a throw of 69.89m
achieved at Athens 2004. Martina Hellmann from Germany holds the women’s record
with an effort of 72.30m at Seoul 1988.

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Common questions

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The men's discus weighs 2kg and is 22cm in diameter, whereas the women's discus weighs 1kg and is 18cm in diameter. These differences align with physiological disparities, allowing for competition equity between genders .

During the qualifying round, each athlete gets three throws. The best 12 competitors advance to the finals based on the longest throws. In the final, each athlete again receives three attempts, with the top eight receiving three more, and rankings are decided by the longest throw .

Olympic records such as Virgilijus Alekna's men's throw of 69.89m and Martina Hellmann's women's throw of 72.30m serve as benchmarks. These records push contemporary athletes to refine techniques and improve strength conditioning, continuously setting higher performance standards in training .

Officials measure from the first point where the discus touches the ground to the throwing circle's inside arc using a tape. The technique ensures consistent starting points by placing the tape's zero end at the landing spot, extending it to the center of the circle to resolve discrepancies .

The cage must securely contain a 2kg discus moving at 25m/sec, preventing it from rebounding towards the athlete. Its 'U shape' allows the discus to pass freely while ensuring that spectators remain safe. The netting, made of synthetic or natural fiber, must be at least 4 meters high .

The inclusion of women's discus throw in 1928 marked a significant stride towards gender equality in athletics. It diversified competition, increased global participation, and challenged traditional gender roles, fostering further inclusion and evolution in sports events .

Discus materials like wood, plastic, fiberglass, and metal affect weight distribution, grip, and aerodynamics. A smooth finish aids in grip and a uniform rim ensures consistent flight. These factors collectively enhance an athlete's ability to achieve maximum possible distance .

Frantisek Janda-Suk introduced a rotational technique utilizing the full body, revolutionizing discus throw mechanics. This method allowed throwers to generate more momentum and leverage, thus significantly increasing throw distances and influencing current training methods .

Athletes must stand inside a 2.5-meter diameter circle and must not touch the top rim or the ground beyond the circle. Crossing the circle before the discus lands is considered a foul. Throws landing outside marked boundaries are invalid, and each athlete has eight attempts to achieve their best throw .

The discus throw was initially part of the ancient Greek pentathlon dating back to 708 BC and was later modernized in the 1870s by Christian Georg Kohlrausch and his students . Frantisek Janda-Suk was notable for introducing a full-body rotational technique at the modern Olympics, earning a silver medal in 1900 .

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