Athletes in Action

DISCUS THROWING-SUMMARY (1) THE Swi.sc Discus THROWING, properly performed, provides the very poetry of motion. This, I think, is proved by the pictures on the opposite page of H. Ho:ffmeister, who holds the German record of 16o ft. o 1 1 u- ins., making the rhythmic and harmonious preliminary swings, which precede the turning movement, whereby the thrower crosses the circle. It will be seen that every part of the athlete's body is relaxed during the preliminary swings from front to rear and rear to front in a cross-body action, that the turning movement of the body follows the free swing of the Discus and that the whole action is characterised by perfect balance and perfect timing in its every phase. The pictures are notable, also, for the perfect smoothness of action which they portray. The body retains an upright position while the athlete is merely swinging the Discus to generate a certain amount of momentum, as seen in Figs. I and 2. But the moment the athlete decides to commence the turn, the body leans in the direction in which the turn is to be made, and Figs. 3 and 4 portray positions from which it would be impossible for the athlete to fail to turn smoothly. The swings, leading up to the turn, as shown opposite, should be practised for a long time with considerable care. N \0 \.FI