HHats Off for Her!!!

Stephanie Brown Trafton celebrates her gold medal performance. 

Stephanie Brown Trafton didn’t quite come from nowhere to win the 2008 Olympic women’s discus gold medal, but it was close. A 2004 Olympian, Brown Trafton owned the world’s longest throw for about six weeks in 2008. But she’d never won a U.S. championship, never competed in a world championship and placed third at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. In Beijing, Brown Trafton was one throw away from not qualifying for the discus final. But her last attempt in the preliminary round traveled 62.77 meters (205 feet, 11 inches), beating the automatic qualifying distance. Then she made history with her first-round throw in the final, hurling the discus 64.74/212-5, a distance that stood up and made Brown Trafton the first U.S. women’s discus gold medalist since 1932.

Brown Trafton was born on Dec. 1, 1979, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. She won state championships in shot put and discus at Arroyo Grande High School, but entered Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on a basketball scholarship. She played one year of college basketball but suffered a torn ACL in her knee and decided to focus on track and field thereafter.

I spoke with Brown Trafton by phone in January, 2009. In part 1 of this 2-part interview, Brown Trafton discussed her 2008 Olympic experience.

On the 2008 Olympic Trials
“It was probably the most nerve-wracking meet of the year, because just one bad day could ruin your whole year, almost. ... But I knew that I definitely had the ability to make the team fairly easily. My competitions all year showed that I could. It was just a matter of actually getting the job done.

“The preliminary day, (my) first throw was good enough to make it to the finals. It was the top mark in the preliminaries ... so I was number one going into the finals. But the finals is kind of where I wavered a bit in my confidence. The first two throws weren’t as good as they needed to be to actually make it to the top eight. (Editor’s note: Only the top eight throwers continue to the last three rounds of the final at the Olympic Trials.) So it came down to one throw where it was either make it or break it. That was almost like the first hurdle of the year, was just getting this throw, just making it to the final round for the discus in the Trials. Then once I hit that throw, it kind of gave me some more confidence, which led me in to a good enough throw to make the Olympic team. For a lot of people going for the Olympic team in the USA, just making the team is the hardest part. As long as you make the team, you kind of pat yourself on the back and say, ‛OK, let’s move on to the next one.’

“From that point I had six weeks to prepare for the Olympics. And it was almost like a whole new season. It was like, ‛OK, this is a new training cycle, it’s like a real short, six-week training cycle.’ And you have to kind of deal with the emotions of making the team and then you have to deal with all the travel plans ... and after that it’s just going over there and performing to the best of your ability.”

On her mind-set in Beijing
“My mind-set going in was that I could possibly medal; I had the ability, especially given the fact that I had the top-ranking mark of the year for six weeks running. I had three out of the top ten throws in the world at that point (for 2008). I had consistency all year long and I was really good at the higher-end (meets). Basically, it was almost like, ‛OK, here’s another hurdle that I have to get over.’ And the first hurdle was just making the finals.

“The Olympics (preliminaries) was the time where, up to that point in the season, was the most stressful time. It’s almost like, each meet after that point was even more stress. But I had two (poor) throws in the preliminaries – my first two throws weren’t good enough to make the finals. So at that point it came down to one throw. And I literally just thought about my season in the past, and I thought about what the future could bring, depending on if I did good or bad, and I actually just let the whole thing go at that point. I concentrated on just that one throw at that one time. I let the past go and I let the future be – I didn’t worry about any of the past or the future. ... Just being in the moment for that one throw. And that throw ended up being the farthest throw of the preliminary competition, setting me up for the final round. And even at that point I wasn’t really sitting very comfortably because, looking back at the statistics, the number one thrower in the preliminary for the women’s discus had never medaled. I was like, ‛Oh, this is not a good thing.’ Even though I had the top mark, statistically speaking, this is not so hot. So at that point, it was like, I have more work to do, I have another hurdle to jump over. The work is not done yet. So it’s basically, just keeping the focus there and not allowing the distractions of everything to get to me.”

On whether she thought she needed a big first throw in the Olympic final
“Not particularly. That’s not my strategy. But it turns out that that’s not very uncommon for me. I have a pattern in a lot of my competitions where my first throw is the best. So I would like to work on that and be more consistent and get better throughout the competition. But statistically, in my own particular pattern, that’s what I do. But I don’t come out like that. I don’t come out thinking like, ‛Oh, I have to hit a big one right now.’ But the way it is with me is that, my first throw – I don’t have to worry about what I did on my last throw. Because that can really get to a lot of people. You’re always kind of thinking about the last one that you did and how you can make it better or you how it should’ve been better. So my first throw, there’s no prior thing to compare it to, there’s none of those thoughts going through my head. Which is kind of like my own explanation for why my first throw is usually pretty good. But this year I’d like to get better at being able to clear out the past and the future and just concentrate on that one, particular event or that one particular throw.”

Rules for Discus Throwing

Athlete preparing to throw discus Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Overview

The discus throw is a field event that has been competed since the days of the ancient Greek Olympiad. The discus is a circular object held in the tips of the fingers by an athlete standing in a circle, initially facing away from the landing area or sector. The athlete quickly spins around one and half times, building momentum, before releasing the discus. The mechanics of the discus throw are intricate and are typically mastered over several years time. U.S. and international governing bodies embrace specific rules of competition for this event.

The Discus

The discus should be made of solid or hollow wood or synthetic material with a metal rim encircling the discus. The top and bottom of the discus must be identical and must be smooth throughout. The center of the discus should be raised and taper to the rim. The competitive weight of the discus varies with sex and age. Per International Association of Athletic Federations rules, females of all ages and levels use a discus weighing 1 kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, while boys use a 1.5-kg, or 3.3-pound, discus. Junior men use a 1.75-kg, or 3.85-pound, discus, and a 2-kg, or 4.4-pound, discus is used by senior men and by men at the college level.

Legal Throw

The discus is thrown from a circle measuring 2.5 meters, or 8.2 feet, in diameter. The circle has a white rim 6 mm thick. Athletes may touch the inside of the rim only. The athlete must begin each attempt from a stationary position within the circle. Once the throw is completed the athlete must exit the circle from the back half.

Throwing Aids

In the discus throw the athlete is permitted to use chalk on both hands and the discus to assist in properly gripping the implement. There should be no taping of the hand or fingers other than to cover an injury.

Foul Throw

Dropping of the discus outside of the circle during initial swings before the turn and throw results in a foul attempt. An attempt is considered a foul if the athlete touches the top or outside of the rim during the throw. If the discus lands on or outside of the sector lines the throw is determined to be foul. The athlete should not leave the circle until the discus has touched the ground or the attempt will be foul.

Measurement

The measurement of each throw is conducted immediately following the attempt. An attempt is measured from the nearest mark of the discus to the inside of the circumference of the circle.

STEP-BY-DISCUS THROW TECHNIQUE:
To throw the discus with the proper technique, you must complete one-and-a-half rotations in the ring, even though you actually move forward in approximately a straight line, from the back of the ring to the front. Proper footwork is vital to produce the speed necessary for a strong throw. Beginning throwers should perform standing-throw drills before attempting full throws. The following step-by-step description assumes a right-handed thrower.

• Put your non-throwing hand beneath the discus for support. Your throwing hand (including the thumb) is on top of the discus with your fingers evenly spread. The top knuckle of your four fingers (not the thumb) should touch the rim, with your fingertips over the sides. Alternatively, you can place your index and middle fingers together while evenly spacing the remaining fingers.
• Face away from your target. Stand in the back of the ring with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart and your knees and waist slightly bent.

• Hold the discus high in front of the left shoulder. Swing the discus back toward the right shoulder. This action can be repeated once or twice, if necessary, to establish a rhythm.
• Rotate your torso clockwise, bringing the discus as far back as you can, holding it in your throwing hand only (if the target is at 12 o’clock, you should end up facing 9 or 10 o’clock). Your non-throwing arm should be pointed in the opposite direction as your throwing arm. Keep your throwing hand as far from your body as possible throughout the throw. Your weight is on your right foot. Your left heel is off the ground.

• Begin rotating your shoulders in the direction of the throw as you shift your weight to your left foot, then pick your right foot up and swing it around the left. Pivot on the ball of your left foot as you spin toward the center of the ring.

• Just before your right foot lands in the center of the ring, push off with your left foot and continue pivoting toward the front of the ring.
• Pivot on your right foot, swinging the left leg to the front of the ring. Your left foot should land outside of the right (if you drew a line from your right foot to the target, the left foot should be slightly left of the line).

• Assume the power position, with your left side planted and firm, and your left arm pointing forward. Your weight should be shifting from your right side to your left. Your throwing arm should be behind you, outstretched, with the discus at about hip level

• Continue shifting your weight forward as you pivot your hips. Bring your arm up at approximately a 35-degree angle to release the discus. The discus should leave your hand smoothly off the index finger with your hand at about shoulder height. Follow through, rotating to your left to remain in the ring and avoid fouling.

For further queries and doubt Contact me in: auslin.binth@gmail.com

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They r not strong physically..but they r mentally strong...appreciate their valour!!!

HISTORY OF DISCUS THROW:
The discus throw is a routine part of most modern track-and-field meets at all levels and is a sport which is particularly iconic of the Olympic Games. The men's competition has been a part of the modern Summer Olympic Games since the first Olympiad in 1896. Images of discus throwers figured prominently in advertising for early modern Games, such as fundraising stamps for the 1896 games and the main posters for the 1920 and 1948 Summer Olympics.

The women's competition was added to the Olympic program in the 1928 games, although they had been competing at some national and regional levels previously.

Jürgen Schult (GDR) 74.08 m (1986)..
The man in the picture is the world record holder!!!