Athletics of To-Day 1929

338 Athletics of To-day The Scandinavian style looks much the same as the American to the casual observer. In many points it is vastly different. The initial stance and the foot placing throughout is more straight ahead. There is more forward body lean and less crouch in the commencing backward swing of the left leg ( ig. 47, page 326). There is also a much lower carriage of the left leg as it swings forward (see Fig. 47 B, and Picture No. 3, Plate 59, of E. Hirschfeld). Note also the forearm is directed downwards instead of being raised parallel to the ground as in the American style (see Picture No. 4, Plate 6I, of R. L. Howland). In the Scandinavian style, too, the right foot lands alone at R2 (Fig. 49) and the body and shoulder are drawn back as shown in Fig. so and the left leg raised as a counterbalance. A fraction of a second before the left foot is stamped down at L2 the shoulders commence a violent twist from right to left. Directly the left foot is down the right leg begins to push the body, and especially the right hip, up and forward (see Picture No. I, Plate 6o, of K. H. Pridie. This illustration must be studied in all its details most carefully.) The left leg and side are stiffened, and the legs assume a walking attitude. As soon as the hips and shoulders are square to the front the right arm is fully and forcibly extended as shown in Fig. SI, and No. 2, Plate 6o. Without any pause the legs are stretched, the body twisted to the left, and the right shoulder pressed after the shot so that although the body has twisted from right to left it leans to the right as shown in ig. 52. ote the straight line through the body from right foot to right hand. The fact that the reverse of the feet comes much later in the Scandinavian than it do sin the American style will be appre– ciated by a study of Picture No. I, Plate 6I, of J. Daranyi, the Hungarian record holder. In the Scandinavian style the power is provided first by the legs, increased by the rapid twisting of the shoulders, and the shot is given its initial velocity in flight by the jerk introduced by the check which imparts to the arm its final driving power for the delivery, but the wrist and fingers give the final flick for upward rotation. The athlete should try to lift his centre of