The Ongoing Challenge of Measuring Discus Throws
The art of measuring discus throws has sparked considerable debate in the world of athletics, particularly after Vanessa Kamga’s recent performance at the women’s discus final, where she set a Swedish record with a throw of 66.61 meters. Despite this impressive achievement, many viewers and journalists were quick to question the accuracy of the measurements, with some insisting that her throw was longer. Kamga herself criticized the arbitrary methods currently used for measuring throws, pointing out that the process often involves officials running significant distances to determine the landing spot of the discus.
Calls for Better Measurement Techniques
Kamga expressed her disbelief that athletes must rely on such outdated techniques during a post-competition interview. “I don’t understand why we still have officials running 20-25 meters to determine the exact landing spot of the discus. It seems strange that we don’t have a more secure method,” she stated, highlighting a need for technological advancements in measurement.
This isn’t a new debate; journalist Jonas Karlsson voiced similar concerns back in 2017 after Daniel Ståhl narrowly missed out on a gold medal by just two centimeters. He took to social media, calling for a reevaluation of the measurement processes in athletics. “It’s a conservative sport. We can send rockets to the moon, and observe galaxies far away, yet we still can’t accurately measure a discus throw that lands in an old mark,” Karlsson remarked.
Consistency and Fairness in Athletics
Critics like Vesteinn Hafsteinsson, a former coach of Ståhl, have also called for updates to measurement protocols, suggesting that younger and more vigilant officials are necessary during events. Eight years have passed since Karlsson’s plea, yet no significant improvements have been adopted in the standard measurement techniques. Meanwhile, sports like tennis and football have embraced technology to ensure precise measurements, from line calls in tennis to goal-line technology in football.
Preparing for the Upcoming Championships
As Ståhl prepares to defend his world championship title from Budapest, he faces the possibility of narrowly contested results once again. His coach, Staffan Jönsson, expressed a desire for better measurement protocols but acknowledged a reliance on the officials as the status quo. “At some championships, officials haven’t always been as alert; however, here in Tokyo, they have been responsive to the landings,” Jönsson remarked, pointing out the difficulty of making accurate calls from the stands or from home. The discus tends to land flat, often leaving less definitive marks compared to other throwing events such as javelin and shot put.
Despite his concerns, Jönsson has never disputed the results concerning the athletes he trains. He did, however, recall witnessing a morning session during last year’s Paris Olympics where the officials seemed less attentive, which raised eyebrows among spectators.
Ståhl’s Remarkable Qualifying Performance
Leading into the upcoming final, Ståhl’s qualifying throw of 69.90 meters marked his personal best in qualification and showcased his potential. He outperformed his closest competitor, Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh, by nearly two meters. Ståhl acknowledged the significance of his qualifying performance, explaining, “It was an explosive, rhythmic throw that I have been working towards all summer. It came together today, which is absolutely wonderful.”
Although Ståhl currently ranks ninth in the world this year, it should be noted that several competitors who have surpassed his distance did so under optimal conditions on the throwing fields in Oklahoma. Despite his impressive throw, Ståhl remains cautious, claiming, “I feel like I’m on a roll, but I am still the underdog. There are six other competitors capable of throwing over 69.50 meters, so it will be intense in the final.”
