This year is one of the most exciting years to date for one reason and one reason only, writes Zara Obamakinwa, it’s Olympic year
As the 2024 season begins to heat up, Neuff Athletic ambassador and discus athlete Zara Obamakinwa (UK U23 No.1) sheds some light on one of the most exciting events of the Olympics – the discus.
Origins of discus throwing
If we take a look back into the ancient records of the event, it can be called an Olympic Games event for a reason. The discus is one of the original five events contested in the ancient games, where the pentathlon signified the perfect athlete. Think of the iconic ancient Greek statue of the discus thrower, which has captured people’s interest for centuries.
Athletes competing in the pentathlon would throw a bronze discus weighing 9lb (4kg) as far as they could and the best out of five throws would be recorded, much like the modern version of the event. Sometimes beautifully engraved, early discus have been found weighing anywhere from 1.3kg to 6.6kg, made of stone, bronze, iron or wood.
The ancient Olympics were banned around 1600 years ago as part of an effort to suppress paganism and non-Christian events. However, the ancient Grecian sculpture remained hugely popular, with many copies being made and eventually getting rediscovered by archaeologists in the 1700s. It was one of these statues that inspired a German teacher, Christian Georg Kohlrausch, to run experiments with his students to recreate the ancient sport in the 1870s.
This ultimately led to discus throw being reintroduced in the first modern edition of the Olympics in 1896. Interestingly, the planning meeting had been in Paris in June 1894, exactly 130 years before this year’s upcoming Olympics.
It didn’t take long for better throwing techniques to be developed, and the first athlete to use the now-popular technique of a full body rotation was the Czech born Frantisek Janda-Suk, which earned him a silver medal in the 1900 edition.
Will a British discus thrower win this year?
Naturally, many Brits are hoping for an athlete from the UK to make the Parisian podium.
British interests in this year’s Olympic Games have now confirmed to be riding on two athletes: Nick Percy and Lawrence Okoye.
Percy has already thrown the Olympic A standard out in Ramona, Oklahoma in April and recent performances are also showing very good form. Okoye has achieved the Olympic B standard and is currently ranked 23rd in the Road to Paris ‘24, a qualifying position.
Nick Percy (Mark Shearman)
Who will win the Olympic discus in 2024?
Okoye holds the British record with 68.24m but Percy went No.2 on the UK all-time rankings earlier this summer with 67.73m in Ramona.
Now, let’s move onto the rest of the world.
When it comes to this year’s discus competition, it is arguably one of the most unpredictable and competitive ones yet.
In the women’s event, there are several competitors who are in for a chance at the gold.
The reigning Olympic champion Valarie Allman will be looking to defend her title after claiming gold at the Tokyo Games.
Allman has been so consistent this year, having thrown nothing below 67m. After recently being confirmed for the US team, it’s safe to say that Allman’s phenomenal capabilities in the sport could well be the country’s best chance of claiming victory for the second consecutive year in a row.
Feng Bin (Getty)
Bin Feng, another world champion and Olympic finalist is also looking strong this season and Marrike Steinacker has added another 3m to her PB this year to throw over 67m. Sandra Elkasević (née Perković), another veteran of the event who will be competing for Croatia, cannot be ruled out either.
In the men’s discus, we have some real big hitters all battling for the Olympic crown.
- Mykolas Alekna could be the out-and-out favourite at just 21 years old. Part of a throwing family dynasty that rivals some of the greatest sporting families, with world record-holders, European champions and various world medals.
- Kristjan Čeh, world champion and newly crowned European champion who has just beaten Alekna for the title.
- Matthew Denny, the Commonwealth champion and fourth place finisher in the Budapest World championships is looking in fine form
- Daniel Ståhl, the reigning Olympic champion and two-time world champion. He will be back in Paris to defend his Olympic title against the rest of the world, which is looking like a tall order as of now as he is yet to break 70m, but his experience and pedigree in the event may hopefully see him through.
- Alex Rose, Reggie Jagers III and Lukas Weißhaidinger are also worth watching as they may just come out and shock spectators across the globe.
Mykolas Alekna (Getty)
Discus is one to watch!
With its ancient origins and a future full of surprises, discus throw is an essential event that continues to shape the backbone of the modern Olympics and many other competitions across the globe. In a sense, it’s no wonder that the sport has been around for over 2700 years!
Both men’s and women’s discus throwers have launched some of the farthest throws in modern day history and the limits of the event are being constantly pushed. With that being said, the discus is truly an event you cannot afford to miss!
Support the Neuff Ambassador team
Alongside Zara, many other up-and-coming athletes are currently working with Neuff Athletic to give the track and field community the recognition it deserves, both in the UK and further afield.
You can find out who the other ambassadors are by clicking here.
If you’re also looking to up your throwing game with a brand-new discus, Neuff stocks a wide range of athletics equipment that caters to throwers of all levels. You can check their range out by clicking here.
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