This event was included from the very early days of organized athletic
competition. As with other events' rules were entirely a local option,
with various locales restricting the event by allowing only one hand,
eliminating or limiting the run up, marking a scratch line over
which the competitor must not step, etc.
This tradition is continued today with the persistence of "open'' and
"Braemar" stones at the various Games. Early references call this event
"casting of the stone." In the 19th century, It is generally referred to as the
"putting of the weight." Put' is "an old Scottish verb meaning to thrust."
This term came to be used when the throwing action was restricted to require keeping
the weight on the neck and not letting the elbow lead the hand.
A "weight" is an old English measure equaling 16 pounds that is the weight of the modern
shot in track and field. The term 'shot,' of course, derives from the
occasional substitution of a cannon ball for a stone from the middle ages onward.
History of The Discus World Record
On Sunday, Aug. 2nd 1964, the discus world record was reached at Turnov stadium.
Of 64.55m by the 1st serie Ludvik Danek threw over current, 99 days old world record of
Al Oerter (Valnut, Apr. 25th 1964). The 161cm difference meant the second best
improvemet in the modern athletic history (better one reached Eric Krenz by his
first world record in Palo Alto - March 9th 1930, when the difference between 3
years old record of Clarence Houser was 170 cm). Ludvik Danek is the 19th. world
record holder and his record is the 29th item of world tables. His personal best
was overcame by 285cm. The record from Turnov held 436 days, when on Oct. 12th was
erased by Danek himself (Sokolov - 65.22m). Danek was the world record holder full
1392 days, until Jay Silvester returned to world top (Modesto, May 25, 1968 - 66.54m).
