Athletics (British Sports Library)

JAVELIN THROWING 147 (Sketch D). The . steps should be short and springy, with the body relaxed, but yet held well together and in perfect control. In the Swedish method of throwing, which we are now considering, the athlete's chief trouble in the run-up lies in the difficulty of leading the javelin smoothly back over the shoulder while increasing the speed just prior to the throw. Five or six steps before the scratch line is reached the = thrower draws the javelin smoothly back over the shoulder until the arm is perfectly straight, at the same time the arm and back are bent backwards. The whole movement occupies three steps while the athlete is travelling at top speed, and must yet be executed perfectly smoothly. The last step before the transition to the commencement of the throw is shown in Sketch c. The footwork is shown in Sketch B, the body movement in Sketch c. Particular notice should be taken that the javelin and fully stretched arm have not been allowed to fall below the plane of