The Space Olympics by A. M. Lightner

[james_davis_nicoll]

The Space Olympics by A. M. Lightner

Comments

[jennlk]

Discus 'throwing' is a very awkward thing. You start at the back of a circle and spin your way across it, releasing the discus just as you reach the other side. (it's not really 'throwing', as the only momentum imparted to the discus is from your motion across the circle - the arm is only a lever/pendulum for releasing the discus.)

And of course it's all white humans - who else would settle Spaace?

[kedamono]

I think the biggest problem with that picture is his left hand in front of his right knee. And it turns out that the artist used the famous Greek statues "Discobolus" as the model. Every other picture I've seen of discus throwers, they have their left arm stretched out in front of them, acting as a counterbalance.

[jennlk]

He just hasn't gotten to that position yet - good discus throwers start in a crouch, with their non-throwing arm stretched across their body. The start of the throwing motion is a combination of flinging the non-throwing arm out and pushing up from the crouch. (As shown, he's not really in Olympic-level form, but for a 'backwater kid with no real training', it's not too bad.) [I did this in HS field events, our coach was a Div I collegiate discus/shotput athlete.]