Abstract

The techniques of the top eight placers in the men’s and women’s discus throw at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics were studied by a team of researchers from the Institute for Applied Training Science in Leipzig, Germany, with the aim of obtaining the latest data and insight into the technical condition of the world’s current best throwers. The throws in both the preliminary round and finals were recorded with video cameras set up in the seating area of the stadium. The release parameters (release velocity, angle of release, etc.), spatial and temporal characteristics of the throwing movement and other data were obtained from a three-dimensional photogrammetric analysis of the best throws for which suitable recordings were available. To give guidance for coaches and athletes preparing for future high-level competitions, the mean values and standard deviations were derived and compared with other parameters. Parameters describing the throwing technique were averaged for two groups of finalists in the two competitions and compared to those that explained the differences in the placings. Verf.-Referat