| Event: | Discus throw |
| Wrmen: | (2025) |
The discus throw, also known as disc throw, is a track and field event in which the participant athlete throws an oblate spheroid weight called a discus 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.
See also: History of physical training and fitness. 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.
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.
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]
| 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 |
| 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 |
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 diameter, which is recessed in a concrete pad by 20mm. The thrower typically takes an initial stance facing away from the direction of the throw. They then spin anticlockwise (for right-handers) 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]
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]
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]
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.
See also: Men's discus throw world record progression and Women's discus throw world record progression.
| 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 |
| Mark | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=center | 1 | align=center | 1 | Mykolas Alekna | 13 April 2025 | Ramona | [19] | ||
| 2 | M. Alekna #2 | 13 April 2025 | Ramona | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | Matthew Denny | 13 April 2025 | Ramona | |||||
| 4 | M. Alekna #3 | 14 April 2024 | Ramona | [20] | |||||
| 5 | Denny #2 | 10 April 2025 | Ramona | [21] | |||||
| 3 | 6 | Jürgen Schult | 6 June 1986 | Neubrandenburg | |||||
| 4 | 7 | Virgilijus Alekna | 3 August 2000 | Kaunas | |||||
| 5 | 8 | Gerd Kanter | 4 September 2006 | Helsingborg | |||||
| 6 | 9 | Kristjan ÄŒeh | 31 May 2025 | Slovenska Bistrica | [22] | ||||
| 10 | ÄŒeh #2 | 24 May 2025 | Zagreb | [23] | |||||
| 11 | M. Alekna #4 | 2 August 2025 | Palanga | [24] | |||||
| 12 | M. Alekna #5 | 30 May 2025 | College Station | [25] | |||||
| 13 | ÄŒeh #3 | 25 May 2025 | Ptuj | [26] | |||||
| 14 | Denny #3 | 6 April 2025 | Ramona | ||||||
| 15 | Kanter #2 | 3 May 2007 | Salinas | ||||||
| 7 | 16 | Ralford Mullings | 16 August 2025 | Ramona | [27] | ||||
| 17 | Kanter #3 | 8 May 2008 | Salinas | ||||||
| 8 | 18 | Yuriy Dumchev | 29 May 1983 | Moscow | |||||
| Daniel Ståhl | 29 June 2019 | Bottnaryd | [28] | ||||||
| 20 | Čeh #4 | 16 June 2023 | Jõhvi | [29] | |||||
| align=center | 10 | align=center | 21 | Piotr Małachowski | 8 June 2013 | Hengelo | |||
| align=center | 11 | align=center | 22 | Róbert Fazekas | 14 July 2002 | Szombathely | |||
| align=center | 23 | M. Alekna #6 | 19 July 2025 | London | [30] | ||||
| align=center | 24 | Kanter #4 | 25 June 2009 | Kohila | |||||
| 25 | V. Alekna #2 | 25 July 2007 | Kaunas | ||||||
| align=center | 12 | Lars Riedel | 3 May 1997 | Wiesbaden | |||||
| align=center | 13 | Alex Rose | 11 May 2024 | Allendale | [31] | ||||
| 14 | Ben Plucknett | 4 June 1983 | Eugene | [32] | |||||
| 15 | Sam Mattis | 13 April 2025 | Ramona | ||||||
| 16 | John Powell | 9 June 1984 | San Jose | ||||||
| Rickard Bruch | 15 November 1984 | Malmö | |||||||
| Imrich Bugár | 25 May 1985 | San Jose | |||||||
| align=center | 19 | Art Burns | 19 July 1983 | San Jose | |||||
| align=center | 20 | Wolfgang Schmidt | 9 August 1978 | Berlin | |||||
| align=center | 21 | Anthony Washington | 22 May 1996 | Salinas | |||||
| align=center | 22 | Luis DelÃs | 21 May 1983 | Havana | |||||
| 23 | Clemens Prüfer | 13 April 2025 | Ramona | ||||||
| align=center | 24 | Mac Wilkins | 9 July 1980 | Helsinki | |||||
| align=center | 25 | Aleksander Tammert | 15 April 2006 | Denton | [33] |
| Mark | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 9 July 1988 | |||||
| 2 | 2 | 26 August 1984 | |||||
| 23 July 1989 | |||||||
| 4 | Reinsch #2 | 13 September 1988 | Berlin | ||||
| 5 | Wyludda #2 | 13 September 1988 | Berlin | ||||
| 4 | 6 | 20 June 1987 | |||||
| 7 | Gansky #2 | 27 June 1987 | |||||
| 5 | 8 | Daniela Costian | 30 April 1988 | Bucharest | |||
| 9 | Costian #2 | 24 April 1988 | Bucharest | ||||
| 6 | 10 | Valarie Allman | 12 April 2025 | Ramona | [39] | ||
| 11 | Reinsch #3 | 12 June 1988 | |||||
| 7 | 12 | Irina Meszynski | 17 August 1984 | Prague | |||
| 13 | Gansky #2 | 11 June 1987 | Neubrandenburg | ||||
| 8 | 14 | Galina Savinkova | 8 September 1984 | Donetsk | |||
| 15 | Savinkova #2 | 22 May 1983 | |||||
| Gansky #3 | 6 June 1986 | ||||||
| 17 | Gansky #4 | 29 May 1987 | |||||
| 9 | 18 | 19 April 1987 | |||||
| 19 | Wyludda #3 | 13 September 1988 | Berlin | ||||
| 10 | 20 | 20 July 1984 | Berlin | ||||
| 11 | 21 | Yaime Pérez | 13 April 2024 | Ramona | [40] | ||
| 22 | Gansky #5 | 6 June 1987 | |||||
| Wyludda #4 | 5 August 1989 | ||||||
| 24 | Savinkova #3 | 23 June 1985 | |||||
| 25 | Gansky #6 | 9 July 1988 | |||||
| 12 | 20 August 1987 | ||||||
| 13 | 17 August 1984 | Prague | |||||
| 14 | Mariya Vergova | 13 July 1980 | Sofia | ||||
| 15 | Xiao Yanling | 14 March 1992 | Beijing | ||||
| 16 | Ellina Zvereva | 12 June 1988 | Leningrad | ||||
| 17 | Evelin Jahl | 10 May 1980 | Potsdam | ||||
| 18 | Sandra Perković | 18 July 2017 | Bellinzona | [41] | |||
| 19 | Larisa Korotkevich | 29 May 1992 | Sochi | ||||
| 20 | Ria Stalman | 15 July 1984 | Walnut | ||||
| 21 | Hilda Ramos | 8 May 1992 | Havana | ||||
| 22 | Larisa Mikhalchenko | 18 June 1988 | Kharkiv | ||||
| 23 | Laulauga Tausaga | 12 April 2025 | Ramona | ||||
| 24 | Maritza Martén | 18 July 1992 | Seville | ||||
| 25 | Denia Caballero | 20 June 2015 | Bilbao | [42] |
