Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

140 SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS the greater the length from shoulder to hammer-head, the greater will be the radius of the circle described by such hammer-head, and therefore the greater the momentum generated. The athlete, having taken up his position within the 7-foot circle, well against the back half of which his toes are placed, with the feet nicely separ– ated to balance the weight pf his body, makes the swing as already described. But this swinging must be done evenly and with steadiness, for if it is at all jerky, the poise of the whole body will be upset from the start, and good throwing or turning cannot pos– sibly result. Just as one is coming to the end of the last three swings, if it is felt that the balance has not been upset, the arms Increase the speed at which the hammer is being swung. As the hammer-head is coming downwards for the last time, the turning movement commences; the athl~te must be very careful that the left foot .is not drawn back to commence the turn, for if this is done, he will inevitably go out of the circle at the other side when the throw is made; a 7-foot circle is small enough in all conscience, and it is sheer foolishness to use up a part of it to no advantage by drawing back the foot before the turn is commenced. As the third swing is completed, the athlete quits his bent-kneed position and, risifl:g on the toes, bends the legs, which are kept t?gether and parallel over to the left; the right foot is taken off the ground, and the thrower pivots around on the left foot (sketches 3 and 4). Care must be taken that the first turn is not made too rapidly or control of the hammer will be lost, and it will travel in ·advance of the thrower's body, which means the loss of all form and style. See