Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

DISCUS-THROWING 155 slightly bent under him, so that when the right foot comes to ground (-fig. 6o), he will be well gathered together for the leg-drive as the throw is made. As will be seen by referring to the photographs of Flaxman, while the athlete is swinging around on the left foot the throwing arm is kept well to the rear of the body, so that it may get the longest sweep possible in making the delivery. At the end of the turn upon the left foot the right foot is planted down (fig. 6r and sketch 4), and instantly the thrower springs ar.ound and swishes the throwing arm to the front across the body, sending the discus on its flight as the right shoulder follows through. At the same time as the arm comes round, the legs get a drive off the ground by being straightened out at the knees ; thus a good deal of the weight of the body is put into the throw. lt has of course been understood that the speed throughout has gradually worked up to the culminating point when the throw is made. The pictures of A. E. Flaxman will give a good idea of the muscles used and also of the thrower's form as the discus leaves the h·and. It will be seen that the right shoulder has not come round until the last in– stant, and the reverse of the feet has not been finished, although the upper part of the body has followed the swing right through (figs. 62, 63, 64, and 65). The work of the hand should also be natural. Other points of importance are the carriage of the head, with eyes directed upwards in the direction of the flight of the discus (see photographs 6A, 6B, 6c, and 6n in figs. 62 to 65), and the rigidity of the abdominal muscles, as all the powers are concen– trated in the final effort. There are two variations in the above style of throw