A throwing Olympic field event in which athletes rotate inside a circle to fling a heavy circular disc for distance.
Origin and rules
The discus throw was central to the ancient Greek pentathlon, immortalised in Myron’s Discobolus statue. The modern event was contested at the first modern Olympics in 1896. Athletes spin within a 2.5-metre circle before releasing the disc.
How it plays
The discus weighs 2 kilograms for men and 1 kilogram for women. Athletes use a 540-degree rotation to build angular velocity, then release the discus into a sector. The longest legal throw across six attempts wins.
Competition
The World Athletics Championships and the Olympic Games are the marquee events. Mykolas Alekna broke Jurgen Schult’s long-standing world record in 2024 with a throw of 74.35 metres. Sandra Perkovic and Valarie Allman lead the women’s ranks.
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Discus Throw starts with D and ends with W. Browse other sports along the same letter.
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