Discus throw is one of the oldest individual sports. It was a popular event with the ancient Greeks in their Olympic Games. The Greeks considered the discus-throwing champion the greatest athlete.
Athletes in ancient times threw a discus that was made of stone or metal. Today’s discus is a round plate of wood or other material. It is tapered at the edge and has a smooth metal rim. A men’s discus is 219 to 221 millimeters (8 5/8 to 8 7/10 inches) in diameter and 44 to 46 millimeters (1 3/4 to 1 13/16 inches) thick at the center. It weighs at least 2 kilograms (4 pounds 6 1/2 ounces). A women’s discus is 180 to 182 millimeters (7 to 7 1/6 inches) in diameter and 37 to 39 millimeters (1 7/16 to 1 9/16 inches) thick at the center. It weighs at least 1 kilogram (2 pounds 3 1/4 ounces).
Athletes throw the discus from a circle 2.5 meters (8 feet 2 1/2 inches) in diameter. The discus thrower holds the discus in the palm of one hand, the ends of the fingers curling around the rim. He or she whirls in a complete turn to gather speed and power, and hurls the discus at the end of another half turn. The fingertips spin the discus as it leaves the athlete’s hand, and the discus flies through the air in a fairly flat position.
A throw does not count if the thrower steps on the circle or touches the ground outside the circle before the discus strikes the ground. Judges measure the throw from the inside edge of the circle to the nearest point the discus struck the ground. Generally, each athlete gets six throws if eight or fewer contestants enter the competition. If more than eight athletes compete, each one gets three throws. The eight with the longest throws qualify for the finals, where each of the eight gets three more throws.
