Discus Throw

The discus throw is an ancient athletic event invented by the Greeks. During its conception, the discs were made of stone or bronze. The first ever contest was held in 708 B.C. In 1896, the discuss throw was included in the men's athletic program during the Athens Summer Olympic Games. Today's discs has sides made of rubber, plastic, wood, or metal, with a metal rim and a metal core to attain weight. The men's discus weighs 2 kilograms, while the women's discus weighs on kilogram.

Like most of the throwing events, the discus throwers compete by throwing the object, in this case the discus, as far as possible from inside a throwing circle. To make a throw, the athletes starts in a slightly recessed throwing circle measuring 2.5 meters in diameter. In order to attain maximum momentum, the thrower usually takes an initial stance facing away from the direction of the throw. He then spins one and a half times through the circle and releases the discus afterwards. In order for a throw to be counted, the discus must land within the arc marked by lines on the landing zone. In measuring a throw, the distance from the front edge of the throwing circle to where the discus has landed is used. Distances are rounded up to the nearest half-inch or centimeter.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the governing body that determines the rules of the discus throw. Among these rules are:
1. The IAAF is authorized to determine the weight and shape of the discs used during competition.
2. During the competition, each athlete is given eight chances to throw the disc. The best legal throw is recorded and evaluated in determining the winner of the competition.
3. In case of a tie, the second best throws are used in determining the winner of the competition.
4. No athlete is permitted to leave the throwing circle until the disc touches the landing area.
5. Athletes are not allowed to leave the competition ground without permission from the judge.

A throw is deemed foul if the athlete leaves the throwing circle before his disc lands. In addition, a throw will also not be counted if the disc lands outside the landing area.

Discus throwers typically have heavy-set bodies and are also muscular and today's throwing techniques are much different from the ones used in the old days. This can be attributed to the better understanding of aerodynamics and how the human body functions.