Athletics of To-Day 1929

Throwing the Discus 293 difference in footwork shown in Fig. 36 (European style), and in Fig. 39 (American style) should be carefully studied. There are three types of finish to the American form : (r) The European style is adhered to and the reverse of the feet not made until after the discus has left the hand. (2) The spin on the left foot at Lz (Fig. 39) terminates in a jump-round which lands both feet simultaneously at Rz and L3, with knees bent and body well drawn back to the right. (See Nos. r and 2, Plate 52, and the actual throwing stance is seen in No. 4, Plate so.) The thrower then drives hard up from both feet as the shoulders are twisted from right to left, and the feet are reversed with the throw, so that the right foot lands quickly at R3. (3) The throw is made with both feet firmly planted, but ends with a pivot on the ball of the left foot (instead of the standard reverse) ; this final spin causes the right leg to swing free to point A, Fig. 39, outside the circle, but without, of course, allowing the foot to touch the ground. This type of finish action is shown in Fig. 40. It is claimed for the third style that this finish allows a full follow FtG. -40 through of the whole right side of the body; but, in my opinion, the spin on the left foot does not introduce the stiff leg check to provide the necessary "jerk." It seems to me that the Scandinavians are right in their contention that the left leg and side must be stiffened to resist the tendency of the body to sway to the left. Much pleasure may always be derived from the practice of the throwing events; since, to the really keen exponent of these arts, who treats them as such, the result of a contest in actual placing matters hardly at all. I know, for instance, that it gave