Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's discus throw

The men's discus throw event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Saturday, August 21, 1920, and on Sunday, August 22, 1920. 17 discus throwers from eight nations competed.[1] No nation had more than 4 athletes, suggesting the limit had been reduced from the 12 maximum in force in 1908 and 1912. The event was won by Elmer Niklander of Finland, the nation's second consecutive victory in the men's discus throw. Armas Taipale, the winner in 1912, took silver to become the second man to win multiple medals in the event. Gus Pope took bronze, continuing the American streak of podium appearances at all six discus competitions to date.

Men's discus throw
at the Games of the VII Olympiad
Elmer Niklander (1912)
VenueOlympisch Stadion
DatesAugust 21–22
Competitors17 from 8 nations
Winning distance44.685
Medalists
Elmer Niklander
 Finland
Armas Taipale
 Finland
Gus Pope
 United States
Athletics at the
1920 Summer Olympics
Track events
100 mmen
200 mmen
400 mmen
800 mmen
1500 mmen
5000 mmen
10,000 mmen
110 m hurdlesmen
400 m hurdlesmen
3000 m steeplechasemen
4×100 m relaymen
4×400 m relaymen
3000 m team racemen
3 km walkmen
10 km walkmen
Road events
Marathonmen
Field events
Long jumpmen
Triple jumpmen
High jumpmen
Pole vaultmen
Shot putmen
Discus throwmen
Hammer throwmen
Javelin throwmen
56 lb weight throwmen
Combined events
Pentathlonmen
Decathlonmen
Cross-country events
Individualmen
Teammen

Background

This was the sixth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Returning competitors from 1912 included defending champion Armas Taipale and fourth-place finisher Elmer Niklander, both of Finland. Taipale had twice beaten the world record, though the IAAF did not acknowledge those throws.[2]

Belgium and Czechoslovakia each made their debut in the men's discus throw. The United States made its sixth appearance, having competed in every edition of the Olympic men's discus throw to date. Greece missed the event for the first time.

Competition format

The competition continued to use the single, divided-final format in use since 1896. Each athlete received three throws, with the top six receiving an additional three throws.[3][2]

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in metres) prior to the 1920 Summer Olympics.

World record James Duncan (USA)47.58New York, United States27 May 1912
Olympic record Armas Taipale (FIN)45.21Stockholm, Sweden12 July 1912

No new world or Olympic records were set during the competition.

Schedule
Date Time Round
Saturday, 21 August 192015:45Qualifying
Sunday, 22 August 192010:00Final

Results

The best six discus throwers qualified for the final.

RankAthleteNationQualifyingFinalDistance
Elmer Niklander Finland44.685Unknown44.685
Armas Taipale Finland44.19Unknown44.19
Gus Pope United States42.13Unknown42.13
4Oscar Zallhagen Sweden40.1641.0741.07
5William Bartlett United States40.875Unknown40.875
6Allan Eriksson Sweden39.41Unknown39.41
7Valther Jensen Denmark38.23Did not advance38.23
8Ville Pörhölä Finland38.19Did not advance38.19
9Aurelio Lenzi Italy37.75Did not advance37.75
10Kenneth Wilson United States37.58Did not advance37.58
11André Tison France37.35Did not advance37.35
12Jonni Myyrä Finland37.00Did not advance37.00
13František Hoplíček Czechoslovakia36.75Did not advance36.75
14Émile Ecuyer France36.10Did not advance36.10
15Daniel Pierre France35.53Did not advance35.53
16Arthur Delaender Belgium32.00Did not advance32.00
ACHans Granfelt SwedenUnknownDid not advanceUnknown

References
  1. "Athletics at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games: Men's Discus Throw". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. "Discus Throw, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  3. Official Report, p. 115.

Sources
  • Belgium Olympic Committee (1957). Olympic Games Antwerp 1920: Official Report (in French).
  • Wudarski, Pawel (1999). "Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich" (in Polish). Retrieved 24 August 2007.
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