60 Years of Discus Throwing Technical Development

This video shows the development of the 3 main styles of discus throwing that have produced the most world records, championship medals, and Olympic medals since modern discus throwing began in the late 1950’s early 1960’s. During that period throwing went from an event done in the grass or mud to asphalt and concrete rings. This change completely altered they ways throwers could now use the circle. Field spikes were replaced with flat grip-less shoes and records soared. I chose these names based on the first users of the technique. The names are more for organizational purposes. Each style starts at the beginning and moves to present day. Utah State University Style: 0:00 - 4:06 This style was developed during the college years of Jay Silvester and his team mate Glenn Passey at USU. Jay would go on to be so good during the 60’s that his competition would study his films to learn. They were the first (to my and Jay’s knowledge) to use a wide right leg sweep. In bare essence the technique involves holding the shoulder back in the wind up, pushing off an early high and wide right leg, sweeping with the instep of that leg, creating a jack knife position as the right passes the left, skipping through the middle of the circle, the chest faces the sector as the hips rotate to the power position followed by a jump and turn with both legs. Mike Buncic describes it as right sided throwing. The right foot pulls the thrower through. Athletes in order: Glen Passey, Jay Silvester, Detlef Thorith, Mac Wilkins, Wolfgang Schmidt, Mac, Schmidt, Knut Hjeltnes, Gejza Valent, Dave Voorhees, Knut, Mac, Mike Buncic, Andrius Gudžius, Mykolas Alekna. Linear Style: 4:07 - 6:51 This style was devolved out of simplicity. Problem: I need to get to the power position fast. Solution: Sprint there. The first master of this style was John Powell. His technique was based on running away from the discus. Naturally this became a runover type of turn in the back of the circle. The idea was to keep to feet on the ground as long as possible. Thus a late right foot pickup and quick left to left sprint through the circle. The feet are typically lower than other styles. The finish is typically a turn and jump forward that swings the right arm with the shoulder around the left side to lengthen the throwing lever. John taught this style to Vésteinn Hafsteinsson in the 1990s who then went on to coach this to Gerd Kanter and many other European throwers. Athletes in order: Rink Babka, Silvano Simeon, John Powell, Powell and Ricky Bruch, Powell, John Knichols, Vésteinn Hafsteinsson, Anthony Washington, Aleksander Tammert, Gerd Kanter, Simon Pettersson, Lawrence Okoye, and Kristjan Čeh. East German Style: 6:52 - 9:36 This style was born out of the DDR aka East Germany in the late 1960s. While there were other East Germans who threw differently (Thorith and Schmidt) this was the primary technique taught in the sports schools. It holds the current world records in both the men’s and women’s categories. Similar in ways to both previous styles, this technique involves leaving a long right leg (linear), sweeping wide (USU) and leading with the top of the thigh (linear). This becomes a swing kick with the right leg as it shortens and leads with a bent knee in the middle. The legs squeeze together as the hips turn to land in the center (everybody). The right foot pre-turns as much as possible dragging the discus way behind the hip. The left foot plants solidly on a flat left foot (everybody) and stops in a non reverse finish. Athletes in order: Lothar Milde, Hartmut Losch, Norbert Thiede, Jürgen Schult, Lars Riedel, Michael Möllenbeck, Frantz Kruger, and Robert Harting. All in all the styles all have similarities that have to be common to produce long throws. The distinction between them is more of a matter in which an athlete best moves. Discus Throw Information including Contrarian Approach Book: :// :// Discus technical Article by Dan John and Ralph Maughan: My Website: Pick Up A Technical Analysis: Get Online Coaching: Articles: Socials: