Discus Throw, Men

Another Saturday qualifying/Sunday final event, the discus throw event was unaffected by the Sunday competition argument, as only one American qualified for the final, and that athlete, Dick Sheldon, did not withdraw. The biggest problem in the discus was that the landing area was basically a lane through two rows of trees and many of the competitor’s best throws hit the trees. Thus, one had to throw not only long, but accurately. The event was contested from a 2.50 metre square, rather than a circular ring which later became standard.

It has been said that defending champion Bob Garrett’s biggest problem was that he kept hitting the trees with his throws. Hungary’s Rudolf Bauer recorded 36.04 metres in qualifying and, although he could do no better on Sunday, it held up as the winning throw.