Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's discus throw


The men's discus throw was one of six throwing events on the Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme in London. The competition was held on July 16, 1908. 42 throwers from eleven nations competed. NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes.
This event was one of two discus throwing events in 1908 and was referred to as the "free style" throw; the other was throwing the discus "as at Athens." For this event, the athletes threw the discus from inside a 2.5 metre diameter circle. There were no rules on form, though the thrower had to remain in the circle until the discus hit the ground.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.
World Record43.86' Wilhelm DörrWorms 1907
Olympic Record41.46 Martin SheridanAthens 1906

' unofficial

Results

Giffin's first throw was his best and gave him the lead until the final round. Sheridan threw 40.89 metres on his final attempt to win.
RankAthleteNationDistance
Martin Sheridan40.89
Merritt Giffin40.70
Bill Horr39.45
4Verner Järvinen39.43
5Arthur Dearborn38.52
6Lee Talbott38.40
7György Luntzer38.34
8André Tison38.30
9John Flanagan37.80
10Wilbur Burroughs37.43
11Emil Welz37.02
12–42Mór Kóczán32.76
12–42Ferenc Jesina30.82
12–42Platt AdamsUnknown
12–42Umberto AvattaneoUnknown
12–42Edward BarrettUnknown
12–42Michael CollinsUnknown
12–42Michalis DorizasUnknown
12–42John FalchenbergUnknown
12–42Alfred FlaxmanUnknown
12–42Folke FleetwoodUnknown
12–42John GarrelsUnknown
12–42Nikolaos GeorgantasUnknown
12–42Simon GillisUnknown
12–42Walter HendersonUnknown
12–42Imre MudinUnknown
12–42Charles LagardeUnknown
12–42Henry LeekeUnknown
12–42Eric LemmingUnknown
12–42Ernest MayUnknown
12–42John MurrayUnknown
12–42Theodor NeijströmUnknown
12–42Elmer NiklanderUnknown
12–42Otto NilssonUnknown
12–42Lauri PihkalaUnknown
12–42Aarne SalovaaraUnknown
12–42Jalmari SauliUnknown
12–42František SoučekUnknown
12–42Miroslav ŠusteraUnknown
12–42Ludwig UettwillerUnknown
12–42Hugo WieslanderUnknown
12–42Lauri WilskmanUnknown