The Men's Discus Throw

Discus throw

The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...

event at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics

2009 World Championships in Athletics

The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....

 was held at the Olympic Stadium on August 18 and August 19.

As the only man to throw in excess of seventy metres that season, reigning world and Olympic champion Gerd Kanter

Gerd Kanter

Gerd Kanter is an Estonian discus thrower. He was the 2007 World Champion in the event and won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...

 of Estonia

Estonia at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics

Estonia will compete at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics from 15–23 August. A team of 19 athletes was announced in preparation for the competition. Selected athletes have achieved one of the competition's qualifying standards...

 was the event favourite. Veteran athlete Virgilijus Alekna

Virgilijus Alekna

Virgilijus Alekna is a Lithuanian athlete who specialises in the discus throw. He won medals at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics, including two golds.-Career:...

, the last athlete to beat Kanter in competition, was a strong medal possibility. Olympic silver medallist Piotr Malachowski

Piotr Malachowski

Piotr Małachowski is a Polish discus thrower, silver medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics. His personal best throw is 69,83 metres , achieved on 10 July 2010 at British Grand Prix...

 was another contender, as was German

Germany at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics

Germany will compete at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics from 15–23 August as the host nation. A team of 92 athletes was announced in preparation for the competition, but current women's Marathon world leader Irina Mikitenko and hurdler Thomas Goller withdrew from the Championships....

 Robert Harting

Robert Harting

Robert Harting is a German discus thrower.He won a silver medal at the 2001 World Youth Championships. He was less successful at subsequent championships and finished in eighth in the qualifiers 2002 World Junior Championships...

 who won silver at the previous world championships. The season had been of a high standard, with a number of athletes throwing over 65 m, including Frank Casañas

Frank Casañas

Yennifer Frank Casañas Hernández is a Spanish discus thrower. He competed for Cuba until May 2008. In the 2008 Olympic Games he competed for Spain, reaching the fifth position in the final....

, Bogdan Pishchalnikov

Bogdan Pishchalnikov

Bogdan Pishchalnikov is a Russian discus thrower. He is the brother of Darya Pishchalnikova and Kirill Pishchalnikov.He finished eleventh at the 2003 Universiade and seventh at the 2006 IAAF World Cup...

 and Zoltán Kővágó

Zoltán Kövágó

Zoltán Kővágó is a Hungarian discus thrower. At the 2004 Olympic Games he initially won the bronze medal, but was promoted to silver when countryfellow Róbert Fazekas was disqualified following a doping rule violation....

.

On the first day of competition, qualification went smoothly as many of the highest ranked athletes qualified for the final on their first throw, with seven of them passing the automatic qualification mark of 64.50 m. Casañas and Estonia's number two Aleksander Tammert

Aleksander Tammert

Aleksander Tammert is an Estonian discus thrower.-Athletics career:Tammert competed at the 2004 Olympics and originally finishing fourth, but as gold medal winner Róbert Fazekas was disqualified, Tammert received the bronze medal...

 were the only high-profile athletes to be eliminated. Home competitor Harting had the best throw of the day (66.81), and Kővágó and Kanter were the next best qualifiers.

In the final, Malachowski and Harting started very well on their first throws, with the former taking the lead with a Polish record-breaking throw, while the latter recorded a season's best. The pre-event favourites Kanter and Alekna were unable to challenge the two, as the Estonian took the bronze with his fourth round throw of 66.88 m and the Lithuanian

Lithuania at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics

Lithuania competes at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics from 15–23 August in Berlin.-Team selection:Track and road eventsField and combined events- Results :-External links:*...

 never bettered his first throw of the day (66.36 m) and finished up in fourth place. Consistently throwing better than the rest of the field, Harting and Malachowski battled for the top spot. The Pole improved his lead with 69.15 m in the fifth round, another national record, but Harting took the gold with his final throw of the competition, recording a personal best of 69.43 m.

The victory for the home athlete was marred by his controversial comments regarding an initiative by victims of doping in East Germany

Doping in East Germany

East Germany conducted a decades long program to feed performance-enhancing drugs to their athletes. The drug regimes, given either with or without the knowledge of the athletes, resulted in victories in international competitions, including the Olympics.Systematic doping of athletes ended with the...

. Former East German athletes, who had suffered through the state-sponsored doping program in the 1980s, were distributing glasses outside the stadium to encourage people not to "turn a blind eye" to doping. Harting said that he wished his discus would bounce from the ground and hit wearers in the eyes, but he later retracted and apologise for his statement.

Medallists

Gold
Silver
Bronze

Records

World record		74.08	Neubrandenburg Neubrandenburg Neubrandenburg is a city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, on the shore of a lake called the Tollensesee .... , East Germany	6 June 1986
Championship record		70.17	Helsinki Helsinki Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is... , Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...	7 August 2005
World leading		71.64	Kohila Parish Kohila Parish Kohila Parish is the northernmost municipality of Rapla County, Estonia. It has a population of 5,925 and an area of 230.20 km².-Settlements:Borough:KohilaSmall boroughs:Hageri - PrillimäeVillages:... , Estonia Estonia Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...	25 June 2009
African record		70.32	Salon-de-Provence Salon-de-Provence Salon-de-Provence is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France. It is the location of an important air base.-History:Salon was a Gallo-Roman oppidum well positioned on the salt trade routes between Adriatic, Atlantic and Mediterranean seas, hence its name... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...	26 May 2002
Asian record		69.32	Tallinn Tallinn Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list... , Estonia	3 June 2008
North American record		71.32	Eugene Eugene, Oregon Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	4 June 1983
South American record		66.32	Rosario, Argentina Argentina Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...	15 April 2006
European record		74.08	Neubrandenburg, East Germany	6 June 1986
Oceanian record		66.37	Salinas Salinas, California Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census... , United States	22 May 2008

Qualification standards

A standard	B standard
64.50 m	62.50 m

Schedule

Date	Time	Round
August 18, 2009	10:05	Qualification
August 19, 2009	20:10	Final

Qualification

Qualification: Qualifying Performance 64.50 (Q) or at least 12 best performers (q) advance to the final.

Rank	Group	Athlete	Nationality	#1	#2	#3	Result	Notes
	A	Robert Harting Robert Harting Robert Harting is a German discus thrower.He won a silver medal at the 2001 World Youth Championships. He was less successful at subsequent championships and finished in eighth in the qualifiers 2002 World Junior Championships...		66.81			66.81	Q
	A	Gerd Kanter Gerd Kanter Gerd Kanter is an Estonian discus thrower. He was the 2007 World Champion in the event and won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...		66.73			66.73	Q
	B	Zoltán Kővágó Zoltán Kövágó Zoltán Kővágó is a Hungarian discus thrower. At the 2004 Olympic Games he initially won the bronze medal, but was promoted to silver when countryfellow Róbert Fazekas was disqualified following a doping rule violation....			65.82		65.82	Q
	B	Jarred Rome Jarred Rome Jarred Rome is an American discus thrower. His personal best throw is 68.76 metres, achieved in 7, August 2011 in Chula Vista...		60.92	65.51		65.51	Q
	A	Casey Malone Casey Malone Casey Malone is an American discus thrower. His personal best is 68.49 metres, achieved in June 2009 in Fort Collins, Colorado.-Achievements:-External links:...		65.13			65.13	Q
	B	Virgilijus Alekna Virgilijus Alekna Virgilijus Alekna is a Lithuanian athlete who specialises in the discus throw. He won medals at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics, including two golds.-Career:...		65.04			65.04	Q
	A	Mario Pestano Mario Pestano Mario Pestano García is a male Spanish discus thrower. His personal best throw is 69.50, achieved on July 27, 2008 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife-Achievements:-External links:*...		65.03			65.03	Q
	B	Piotr Małachowski		64.20	64.48	62.65	64.48	q
	A	Bogdan Pishchalnikov Bogdan Pishchalnikov Bogdan Pishchalnikov is a Russian discus thrower. He is the brother of Darya Pishchalnikova and Kirill Pishchalnikov.He finished eleventh at the 2003 Universiade and seventh at the 2006 IAAF World Cup...		62.93	61.09	60.08	62.93	q
10	A	Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly is an Egyptian discus thrower.In 1999 he was recruited by former African shot put champion Nagui Asaad, who was setting up a throwing school that also included hammer thrower Mohsen El Anany and shot putter Yasser Fathy...		62.84	62.09		62.84	q
11	B	Gerhard Mayer Gerhard Mayer Gerhard Mayer is a male discus thrower from Austria.He represented his native country at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he ended up in 18th place in the overall-rankings. Mayer is best known for winning the gold medal in the men's discus event at the 2007 Summer Universiade in Bangkok,...		62.53	59.33	62.19	62.53	q
12	B	Frantz Kruger Frantz Kruger Frantz Kruger is a South African born Finnish discus thrower who won the Olympic bronze medal in 2000. He is also a double African champion...		62.29		60.45	62.29	q
13	A	Aleksander Tammert Aleksander Tammert Aleksander Tammert is an Estonian discus thrower.-Athletics career:Tammert competed at the 2004 Olympics and originally finishing fourth, but as gold medal winner Róbert Fazekas was disqualified, Tammert received the bronze medal...		62.24	61.93	59.44	62.24
14	A	Ian Waltz Ian Waltz Ian Waltz is an American discus thrower. He is originally from Post Falls, Idaho and attended Washington State University. His personal best distance is 68.91 metres, achieved in May 2006 in Salinas....			60.27	62.04	62.04
15	A	Benn Harradine Benn Harradine Benn Harradine is an Australian discus thrower who was selected to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing....		60.73	61.74	60.79	61.74
16	B	Frank Casañas Frank Casañas Yennifer Frank Casañas Hernández is a Spanish discus thrower. He competed for Cuba until May 2008. In the 2008 Olympic Games he competed for Spain, reaching the fifth position in the final....				61.10	61.10
17	A	Gaute Myklebust			60.80		60.80
18	A	Bertrand Vili		60.68			60.68
19	B	Erik Cadee Erik Cadée Erik Cadée is a Dutch discus thrower.Among his first international appearances was a runner-up performance at the 2001 European Youth Olympic Festival...			60.64		60.64
20	B	Markus Münch		60.55		59.12	60.55
21	B	Ivan Hryshyn		59.93	57.28		59.93
22	B	Märt Israel Märt Israel Märt Israel is a male discus thrower from Estonia. His personal best is 66.98, achieved in May 2011 in Chula Vista .-Achievements:...		59.58			59.58
23	A	Jorge Balliengo Jorge Balliengo Jorge Esteban Balliengo is an Argentine discus thrower.He became South American champion in 2005. He also competed at the 2005 World Championships without qualifying for the final round....		56.69	55.32	59.19	59.19
24	B	Ahmed Mohamed Dheeb		55.33	59.16		59.16
25	B	Nikolay Sedyuk			59.03	58.62	59.03
26	A	Oleksiy Semenov		58.78	57.31		58.78
27	A	Daniel Schärer		58.50	58.23	57.22	58.50
28	B	Germán Lauro Germán Lauro Germán Luján Lauro is an Argentine shot putter.He finished eleventh at the 2001 World Youth Championships and became South American champion in 2006...		57.88			57.88
29	B	Ercüment Olgundeniz Ercüment Olgundeniz Ercüment Olgundeniz is a Turkish track and field athlete competing in discus throw and occasionally shot put. Olgundeniz is a member of the Fenerbahçe Athletics Club....		56.54		57.52	57.52

} || A ||align=left| Haidar Nasir

Haidar Nasir

Haidar Nasir Abdulshaheed, also known as Haider Jabreen, is an Iraqi discus thrower. He competed for Iraq at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing...

 ||align=left| || || || || ||
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Final

Rank	Athlete	Nationality	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	Result	Notes
	Robert Harting Robert Harting Robert Harting is a German discus thrower.He won a silver medal at the 2001 World Youth Championships. He was less successful at subsequent championships and finished in eighth in the qualifiers 2002 World Junior Championships...		68.25	67.04	67.80		67.80	69.43	69.43	PB
	Piotr Małachowski		68.77	68.05	67.00		69.15	67.33	69.15	NR Polish records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in Poland maintained by its national athletics federation: Polski Związek Lekkiej Atletyki .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:# = not recognised by federation-External links:* * * * *...
	Gerd Kanter Gerd Kanter Gerd Kanter is an Estonian discus thrower. He was the 2007 World Champion in the event and won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...		65.91	65.65		66.88	66.24	65.45	66.88
	Virgilijus Alekna Virgilijus Alekna Virgilijus Alekna is a Lithuanian athlete who specialises in the discus throw. He won medals at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics, including two golds.-Career:...		66.36	66.32	65.68	64.53	66.24		66.36
	Casey Malone Casey Malone Casey Malone is an American discus thrower. His personal best is 68.49 metres, achieved in June 2009 in Fort Collins, Colorado.-Achievements:-External links:...		63.61	61.59	65.64	64.84	65.98	66.06	66.06
	Zoltán Kővágó Zoltán Kövágó Zoltán Kővágó is a Hungarian discus thrower. At the 2004 Olympic Games he initially won the bronze medal, but was promoted to silver when countryfellow Róbert Fazekas was disqualified following a doping rule violation....			63.09	62.47		65.17	61.69	65.17
	Bogdan Pishchalnikov Bogdan Pishchalnikov Bogdan Pishchalnikov is a Russian discus thrower. He is the brother of Darya Pishchalnikova and Kirill Pishchalnikov.He finished eleventh at the 2003 Universiade and seventh at the 2006 IAAF World Cup...		62.03	63.29	63.18	64.26	65.02		65.02
	Gerhard Mayer Gerhard Mayer Gerhard Mayer is a male discus thrower from Austria.He represented his native country at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he ended up in 18th place in the overall-rankings. Mayer is best known for winning the gold medal in the men's discus event at the 2007 Summer Universiade in Bangkok,...		62.16	60.49	63.17		60.83		63.17
	Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly is an Egyptian discus thrower.In 1999 he was recruited by former African shot put champion Nagui Asaad, who was setting up a throwing school that also included hammer thrower Mohsen El Anany and shot putter Yasser Fathy...		62.13	62.83	62.76				62.83
10	Mario Pestano Mario Pestano Mario Pestano García is a male Spanish discus thrower. His personal best throw is 69.50, achieved on July 27, 2008 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife-Achievements:-External links:*...		62.76		62.27				62.76
11	Jarred Rome Jarred Rome Jarred Rome is an American discus thrower. His personal best throw is 68.76 metres, achieved in 7, August 2011 in Chula Vista...		58.48	62.47					62.47
12	Frantz Kruger Frantz Kruger Frantz Kruger is a South African born Finnish discus thrower who won the Olympic bronze medal in 2000. He is also a double African champion...			59.77					59.77

Key: PB = Personal best, NR = National record