Discus Throw, Women

The women’s discus throw was possibly the most devalued event on the track and field programme in London. Year rankings had been dominated by the Soviet women but, in 1948, the USSR still refused to compete at the Olympics, albeit for the last time. This prevented Nino Dumbadze, European Champion and unofficial World Record holder with a 50-metre-throw, from competing. A week after the Olympic final, she would shatter the World Record officially by nearly 5 metres. By contrast, the 41.92 (137-6½) winning throw by Micheline Ostermeyer seems like a mediocre performance. However, considering that Ostermeyer had only entered the event because she was so versatile, and had already qualified for two other events, it can be considered remarkable. The Frenchwoman was also a great concert pianist, which was much harder for her than sports: “I practice five hours a day on the piano, and five hours a week for athletics”, she once noted.