The discus throw, also known as disc throw, is a track and field event in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than their competitors. It is an ancient sport, as demonstrated by the fifth-century-BC Myron statue Discobolus. 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.
Tsvetanka Pavlova Khristova was a Bulgarian discus thrower. She won gold at the 1991 World Championships and the 1982 European Championships. She also won two Olympic medals, with bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Her best throw of 73.22 metres in 1987, ranks her eighth on the world all-time list.
Martina Helga Hellmann is a retired German track and field athlete who represented East Germany. She was the Olympic champion in the discus throw at the 1988 Summer Olympics. She also won the World Championship in that event in 1983 and again in 1987.
Wolfgang Schmidt is a former German track and field athlete, who competed for East Germany at the 1976 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal in the discus throw. A former world record holder, he also won several medals at the European Athletics Championships. Schmidt made headlines in 1982 due to his failed attempt to escape from East Germany. He later competed for the Federal Republic of Germany and won third place in the 1990 European Athletics Championships. Born in Berlin, he competed for the SC Dynamo Berlin / Sportvereinigung (SV) Dynamo.
The men's discus throw event at the 2000 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics program was held at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday, 24 September and Monday, 25 September. Forty-five athletes from 28 nations competed. The event was won by Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania, the nation's second victory in the men's discus throw. Lars Riedel of Germany took silver, becoming the 13th man to win multiple discus throw medals. Frantz Kruger earned South Africa's first medal in the event with his bronze.
Mac Maurice Wilkins is an American athlete, who competed mainly in the discus throw. He was born in Eugene, Oregon and graduated in 1969 from Beaverton High School in Beaverton, Oregon.
Dani Stevens is an Australian discus thrower who in 2009 became the youngest ever female world champion in the event. She is the current national and Oceanian record holder.
These are the official results of the women's discus throw event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
These are the official results of the Women's Discus Throw event at the 1991 IAAF World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. There were a total of 31 participating athletes, with two qualifying groups and the final held on Saturday August 31, 1991.
These are the official results of the Men's Decathlon competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. There were a total number of 39 participating athletes, with five competitors who didn't finish the competition.
Zdeňka Bartoňová-Šilhavá is a retired female track and field athlete from the Czech Republic, who set the world record in the women's discus throw on 26 August 1984 with a distance of 74.56 metres (244.6 ft). That mark still is the national record.
These are the official results of the Men's Discus Throw event at the 1990 European Championships in Split, Yugoslavia, held at Stadion Poljud on 31 August and 1 September 1990. There were a total number of 23 participating athletes.
These are the official results of the Women's discus throw event at the 1990 European Championships in Split, Yugoslavia, held at Stadion Poljud on 28 and 29 August 1990. There were a total number of sixteen participating athletes.
The men's discus throw event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entry list of 29 competitors from 20 nations, with two qualifying groups before the final (12) took place on Saturday October 1, 1988. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Jürgen Schult of East Germany, the nation's first victory in the men's discus throw and first medal since 1976. Romas Ubartas of the Soviet Union took silver, while Rolf Danneberg of West Germany earned bronze. Danneberg was the 10th man to win multiple discus throw medals, adding to his 1984 gold. For the first time, the United States competed in the event but did not make the podium.
These are the official results of the Men's Discus Throw event at the 1987 World Championships in Rome, Italy. There were a total of 27 participating athletes, with the final held on Friday September 4, 1987.
These are the official results of the Men's Discus Throw event at the 1982 European Championships in Athens, Greece, held at Olympic Stadium "Spiros Louis" on 10 and 11 September 1982.
These are the official results of the Women's Discus Throw event at the 1982 European Championships in Athens, Greece. The final was held at Olympic Stadium "Spiros Louis" on 8 September 1982.
Penny Lou Neer is a former American collegiate and Olympic athlete in discus throwing, basketball and softball.
These are the official results of the Women's discus throw event at the 1986 European Championships in Stuttgart, West Germany, held at Neckarstadion on 28 August 1986.
Sandra Perković is a Croatian discus thrower. She is a two-time Olympic and World champion and a five-time European champion. She is the only individual who managed to win five gold medals at the European Athletics Championships in one event. She is six-time Diamond League overall winner.
