The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 (extracts)

96 XXIV.-THROWING THE DISCUS (as at Athens). The Rule of the A.A.A. with regard to this event was printed m the programme as follows :- " (a) The Discus is thrown from a rectangular pedestal 80 centimetres (31! inches) long and 70 centimetres (27t inches) broad, sloping forward from a height of I 5 centimetres (6 inches) at the back to a height of 5 centimetres (2 inches) at the front. " (b) The method of throwing is as follows :- " The thrower places himself on the pedestal with the feet apart, and holding the discus in either hand. He then grasps it with both hands and raises them without letting go the discus with either, extending the rest of his body at the same time in the sanie direction. After that he turns the trunk to the 1'ight and bends sharply, so as to bring the left hand, which has now left hold of the discus, to the right knee, and the right hand, still holding the discus, as far back as possible. At this moment the right foot should be forward and both legs bent; the right foot rests full on the sole, and the left on the toes only. Then by a sharp and simultaneous extension of the whole body the thrower throws the discus forward. " (c) The thrower may leave the pedestal at the moment of throwing. "{d) The measurement of the throw shall be from the point at which the discus first strikes the groimd to the centre of the front side of the pedestal." ft. in. metres I. M. ]. Sheridan, United States 124 8 37'99 2. 1\1. F. Horr, United States . . 122 5! 37'32 3. W.Jarvinen,Finland 119 8! 36·48 4. A. K. Dearborn, United States 116 1 Ii 35·65 Also competed :-M. Sustera, Bohemia; H. A. Leeke, United Kingdom; M. Doriza, Greece; W. G. Burroughes, United States; W. E. B. Henderson, United Kingdom; I. Mudin, Hungary; N. Georgandas, Greece; U. Avattaneo, Italy; L. Wilskman, Finland; J.C. Garrels, United States; E. Mudin, Hungary; E. E. B. May, United Kingdom; J. Sauli, Finland; A. E. Flaxman, United Kingdom; L. J. Talbot, United States; R. Rose, United States; F. Jesina, Hungary; E. Welz, Germany; G. Luntzer, Hungary; E. V. Lemming, Sweden. At the end of the first round heridan led witb 122 ft. 8l in., with Horr second, 120 ft. 4 in., Jarvinen third. Both the Americans went one better in the final, but the Finn could not improve. It is considered by English scholars that the Athenian rules for the Discus are based upon a mistranslation of a corrupt text, and do not represent what the ancient Greeks actually did j but the rules were used at Athens in 1906, and will no doubt be used there again. The results of admitting them in London show that they are unnecessary, for the same athlete won both the free and the restricted style (as in the Javelin also), and in neither case was a reek, by whose nation the restricted rules were introduced, within the first four. Sheridan had previously thrown 12 8 ft. 10; in. (the Olympic record) in the Greek style at St. Louis in 1904, and won with 136 ft. at \.thens in 1906. He was 27 years old, born in County Mayo, Ireland, 5 ft. I 1_ in. high, and weighs 12 st. 10 lb. He is a splendidly proportioned man, and won the individual all-round champion– ship of the United tates in 1905 and 1907. A Diploma of Merit was awarded to Dearborn, of the United States.