Athletics of To-Day 1929

Throwing the Javelin Schlokat, in Picture No. 3, Plate 39· Notice how the inclina– tion of the head is helping the whole body and arm bend and also that the point of the javelin has not been allowed to tip up. Observe also the strong leg spread and firm foot position. With the left foot down, all the thrower's strength should go into the effort of twisting his shoulders from right to left to start the throw; at the same time the right hip is forced round and up, the legs attain a walk-like position, and the right I g begins to push the body forward. The throwing arm is not, however, brought forward as yet, but the head must be bent back. All this part of the action is shown in Picture No. 4, Plate 39, of Eric Lemming, Sweden, Olympic Champion, 1906, 1908, and 1912, and former world's record holder. Note in Pictures 2, 3, and 4, Plate 39, the cycle of left arm action. In the picture of Lemming the left arm has reached the low point hip level position it will hold while the throw is made. Other points to observe are that the left leg is stiffening up to form a point of resistance and that the left shoulder has not been dropped below the level of the right. In the next action the right elbow swings in close to the ear and so is directly ahead of the hand which at once carries the javelin to the highest pos ible point directly above the shoulder. At the same time the legs and body are forcibly extended upwards and forward , the whole left side is stiffened, the fingers are opened fanwise (see Fig. 27 C), the thumb and forefinger give the javelin its final impetus, and the palm pushes the weapon upwards into the air. The two sketches in Fig. 30 show (1) a good, and (2) a bad finish position, because thrower No. 2 has dropped his left should r, allowed his left knee to ((give," and is breaking to the left away from his work. Picture No. 5, Plate 40, of Jonni Myrra, Finland, Olympic Champion, 1920 and 1924, American, Finnish and previous world's record holder, shows the proper arm, shoulder and body follow through, with full left leg re– sistance. Observe also the rotation of the throwing arm from left to right to give the spear a rifling spin.