Table of Contents
- 1 What was the discus originally used for?
- 2 Was the shotput a weapon?
- 3 What is the history of discus?
- 4 Why is discus in the Olympics?
- 5 Was the discus originally a weapon?
- 6 Where is a discus throw originated from?
- 7 How far can you throw a discus?
- 8 What was the discus made of in ancient Greece?
- 9 What sport is the discus throw at the Olympics?
- 10 Is the discus part of the modern pentathlon?
What was the discus originally used for?
The Greek discus was a throwing disc used during the pentathlon, an event featured at the ancient Olympic Games, Nemean Games, and Pythian Games. The Greek word diskos originally meant “a thing thrown,” though over the years, its definition in ancient Greek culture had evolved to denote a specific object.
Was the shotput a weapon?
So the shot put and discus throw are just two different techniques for throwing rocks as weapons. Naturally, these skills were considered valuable and worthy of respect, so they became the basis of sporting competitions. The discus as such was designed to provide a standardized “stone” for fair competition.
What is the history of discus?
The discus was introduced as part of the pentathlon in the Ancient Olympics of 708BC (the first Olympics were held in 776BC). The enduring image of the Greek discus thrower comes from the iconic 5th century BC statue by the great sculptor Myron. The men’s discus has been part of every modern Olympics.
How heavy is an Olympic discus?
The weight of the discus is fixed at 2kg for the men and 1kg for women. The metal disc is basically thrown by an athlete by standing inside a circle with a diameter of 2.5m.
Was the discus used as a weapon?
The discus emanated from the Australian boomerang, which was a weapon used by the Aboriginals to hunt animals. The discus soon evolved into a thick metal Frisbee, used in ancient times to kill people.
Why is discus in the Olympics?
The men’s discus throw has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1896 (one of two throws events at the first Olympics, alongside the shot put)….Discus throw at the Olympics.
| Discus throw at the Olympic Games | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Men and women |
| Years held | Men: 1896 – 2020 Women: 1928 – 2020 |
| Olympic record | |
| Men | 69.89 m Virgilijus Alekna (2004) |
Was the discus originally a weapon?
The discus emanated from the Australian boomerang, which was a weapon used by the Aboriginals to hunt animals. They soon realized that the animals were too quick and could easily avoid the boomerang. Thus, a faster weapon was needed. The Aboriginals carved out round pieces of hard wood, which they called the discus.
Where is a discus throw originated from?
Ancient Greece
The sport of throwing the discus traces back to it being an event in the original Olympic Games of Ancient Greece. The discus as a sport was resurrected in Magdeburg, Germany, by Christian Georg Kohlrausch and his students in the 1870s.
How did discus throwing start?
Throwing the discus was introduced as an event in modern athletics when the Olympic Games were revived at Athens in 1896. Early modern athletes threw the discus from an inclined pedestal, using an exaggerated style derived from ancient representations of the sport.
Is discus still an Olympic sport?
Yes
Discus throw/Current Olympic sport?
How far can you throw a discus?
Discus throw
| Athletics Discus throw | |
|---|---|
| Men | Jürgen Schult ( GDR ) 74.08 m (243 ft 1⁄2 in) (1986) |
| Women | Gabriele Reinsch ( GDR ) 76.80 m (251 ft 11 in) (1988) |
| Olympic records | |
| Men | Virgilijus Alekna ( LTU ) 69.89 m (229 ft 3 in) (2004) |
What was the discus made of in ancient Greece?
The discus was originally made of stone and later of iron, lead or bronze. The technique was very similar to today’s freestyle discus throw.
What sport is the discus throw at the Olympics?
Discus throw at the Olympics. The discus throw at the Summer Olympics is one of four track and field throwing events held at the multi-sport event.
Who won the discus and javelin?
However, only Discus and Shotput were played, and American Robert Garrett won both events. Javelin made its debut in London in 1908. The sculptured bronze image of the ancient Greek discus thrower is one of the most recognizable sport – not just Olympic sport.
Who invented the discus in ancient Greece?
Greek poet Homer made reference to the event in The Iliad’s description of the funeral games for Patroclus around 800BC. The discus was introduced as part of the pentathlon in the Ancient Olympics of 708BC (the first Olympics were held in 776BC).
Is the discus part of the modern pentathlon?
Although not part of the modern pentathlon, it was one of the events of the ancient Greek pentathlon, which can be dated back to at least to 708 BC, and it is part of the modern decathlon . The sport of throwing the discus traces back to it being an event in the original Olympic Games of Ancient Greece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP5u_Z8d7qI