Athletics - Discus Throw

Discus throwing is a track and field discipline which consists of throwing a discus as far as possible. The modern discus has a circular shape and is normally made of wood, with metal edges and an adjustable central weight. According to the international regulations in force, the discus for men has a diameter of 219 to 221 millimetres, a thickness of 44 to 46 millimetres, and a weight of 2kg. The women’s discus weighs 1 kg and has a diameter varying between 180 and 182 mm and a thickness of 37 to 39 mm. For the throw, athletes take their stance in a circular area 2.5 metres in diameter, which they may not leave until the discus has touched the ground. They start to swing their arms and then execute a rotation of one and a half turns called a wind-up before ending up in a power position in which they throw the discus with a flight angle of between 25 and 40°.