Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

188 SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS three steps before he can accomplish what is erro– neously termed the "standing throw," which we will now describe in detail. The javelin is taken in the hand as already de– scribed. The thrower places his hand, containing the javelin, directly above the right shoulder, so that it lies palm upwards-this detail is important as helping the athlete to draw the arm back to the fullest extent before making the throw ; the upper part of the arm should, when the hand is in this position, be parallel to the ground, the point of the Throwin.!l Boa. rd.. weapon being tilted slightly up- w//1/jh!//U)J(u///llm//ff/l!/W//JIA wards (fig. 74). With the arm, ~Left ro~t hand, and javelin so arranged, he takes three quick steps for- /?R ward, starting from the right or-- j iJht ~t foot and commencing to draw Diagram 34· back ~he throwing arm as he steps off. At the completion of the third step he springs forward, landing firmly on both feet, and at the ~ same time letting the throwing arm go out behind the right shoulder to its fullest extent; as the feet land the body sinks right back, as shown in the photograph of Oswald Pirow (fig. 78). The feet are as shown in diagram 34; the right foot should be well under the body with the knee bent. The body is next swung up with all the strength of which the athlete is capable, and simultaneously the right leg thrusts downwards. When the shoulders are square to the front, the right arm shoots out, hurling the javelin perfectly smoothly and straight out to the front, the hand passing above the shoulder in making the throw.