The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 (extracts)

I. Free Style. (a) The discus is thrown from a circle 2·50 metres (2·733 yards) in diameter. (b) From the centre of this circle a straight line shall be drawn in the direction in which the competitors are to throw. At an angle of forty-five degrees on either ide of this line shall be drawn side lines. To constitute a valid throw the discus must first strike the ground in the space between these side lines. (c) The method of throwing is at the absolute discretion of each competitor. (d) The thrower must remain entirely within the circle until the discus first strikes the ground, otherwise the throw is invalid. (e) To measure the distance thrown, a straight line is taken from the point at which the discus first strikes the ground to the centre of the circle. The distance thrown is the portion of this line which lies outside the circle, II. Throwing the Discus "as at Athens." (a) The discus is thrown from a rectangular pedestal 80 centimetres (31} inches) long and 70 centimetres (27! inches) broad, sloping forward from a height of 15 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 same direction. After that he turns the trunk to the right 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 tbe thrower th1 ows 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 tb discus first strikes the ground to the centre of the front side of the pedestal. THROWING THE JAVELIN. (a) The Javelin shall be 2·6 metres long (8·1 feet) and 800 grammes in weight ( 1 ·6 lb.). It shall be of wood with a sharp iron point, and shall