Why? The Science of Athletics

194 WHY?-THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS patiently and with amazing perseverance to do their champion father full credit. Matti, however, \y'as not good enough to find a place in Finland's 1928 Olympic Team when Eino Penttila, also of Finland, throwing 207 ft. d· ins. for sixth place in the Javelin Final at Amsterdam, was more than 20 ft. behind his own world's record mark of 229 ft. 3-!- ins., made in 1927 at Wiborg. It was not that Penttila was off form, for I saw his spear pass the 235-ft. mark with one no-throw; it was that he lacked that consistency which later became such a marked characteristic of Matti Jarvinen's competitive throwing. Matti, in fact, has practised and practised until he has worn the paths of the nerve impulses so smooth that correct action has now become his second nature. Nor has he stopped there, for he is always exploring new avenues of possibility, and when he does find something new he works away at it, · until the newest, and maybe the tiniest, point of technique is well established and then yet another new record goes on the books. He is not a giant, as throwing men go, but his records, given hereunder, attest his genius for that patient and persevering endeavour which is gemus. Here are his records : JAVELIN THROWING RECORDS OF MATTI JARVINEN, FINLAND 1930--1934 J 1930, 8th Aug. 17th Aug. 31st Aug. 14th Sept. 1932, 27th Apl. Skill Defined Ft. Ins. Ft. Ins. 234 9! 1933, 25th May 243 8-i 235 2! 7th June 244 9l 235 9t rsthJune 249 8 239 3t 242 rot 1934, Sept. 251 6n It will be realized that Matti Jarvinen's success is due to patience and perseverance, combined with perfect technique, which may be termed alternatively "skill" or "physical cleverness". Now what is "skill" ? Professor A V. Hill gives us the following definition : "That subtle thing called 'skill' means, in the end,