The men's
discus throw event was part of the
track and field athletics programme at the
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympische Sommerspiele 1920), officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIe olympiade; nl, Spelen van ...
. The competition was held on Saturday, August 21, 1920, and on Sunday, August 22, 1920. 17 discus throwers from eight nations competed.
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
Elmer Konstantin Niklander (19 January 1890 – 12 November 1942) was a Finnish athlete who competed in throwing events, winning the gold medal in the 1920 discus throw and three other Olympic medals and 44 Finnish championships.
Athletics
N ...
of Finland, the nation's second consecutive victory in the men's discus throw.
Armas Taipale
Armas Rudolf Taipale (27 July 1890 – 9 November 1976) was a Finnish athlete. He competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics and won gold medals in two discus throw events, conventional and two-handed, where the total was counted as a sum of best thr ...
, 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.
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
Armas Rudolf Taipale (27 July 1890 – 9 November 1976) was a Finnish athlete. He competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics and won gold medals in two discus throw events, conventional and two-handed, where the total was counted as a sum of best thr ...
and fourth-place finisher
Elmer Niklander
Elmer Konstantin Niklander (19 January 1890 – 12 November 1942) was a Finnish athlete who competed in throwing events, winning the gold medal in the 1920 discus throw and three other Olympic medals and 44 Finnish championships.
Athletics
N ...
, both of Finland. Taipale had twice beaten the world record, though the
IAAF
World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body for ...
did not acknowledge those throws.
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.
[Official Report, p. 115.][
]
Records
These were the standing world and Olympic records (in metres) prior to the 1920 Summer Olympics.
No new world or Olympic records were set during the competition.
Schedule
Results
The best six discus throwers qualified for the final.
References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics At The 1920 Summer Olympics - Men's Discus Throw
Discus throw
Discus throw at the Olympics