Wolfgang Schmidt vs Jürgen Schult 1991 World Championship Discus Throw

This would be the final major competition for Wolfgang. Jürgen would be beat by the rising Lars Riedel. And the last of the 70s greats would close his career. Wolfgang would place 4th with 64.76m and Jürgen placed 6th with 63.12m.
Both athletes had been brought up by the East German machine. Their techniques were similar but have key differences.
Starting with the wind up Wolfgang would keep more bend in the legs, sit the hips lower, and keep his weight more evenly between his feet. Jürgen had a wider stance, a bit less bend in the legs, and would move most of his weight to the right. Both keep a bend at the hips leaning the shoulders over the knees and keeping the discus about shoulder level.
Starting the first turn they both begin by twisting the left foot around on the inside of the big toe. They sweep the left arm long and hold the X as they turn. Jürgen has to move more to the left to make up ground. His hips drop more as they pick up their right foot since he started higher. Wolfgang is about a frame or two behind Jürgen as they pick up the right foot. Though if you compare the moment the right foot picks and the position of the left foot they are identical.
As they move into the SA position they are nearly identical in timing and position. They both sweep the right leg wide though Wolfgang is leading with the instep and Jürgen is leading with the top of the thigh. The shoulders stay very level as they come from the wind up to the point just before the right foot enters the ring.
The left knee drops down low into the ring over the toes as they sprint out of the back. Their body angles are a bit different with Wolfgang leaning a bit more and going higher as they enter the flight phase. Here they really deviate as Wolfgang keeps the discus up high, drops the left arm low and pivots the hips and torso together in mid air. Jürgen cranks the right foot harder and keeps the shoulders and discus back farther. He tries to keep the chest facing the sector longer as he turns the hips ahead.
This results in Jürgen grounding his right foot faster and having a steeper, and what appears to be narrower, orbit. Wolfgang is only in the air a fraction of a second longer and keeps the discus path wider. They appear to achieve about the same level in the high point though Jürgen’s disc stays back longer.
As the left foot is moving to the PP, you can see both of them lean away from the direction of the throw. The chest is low over a bent right thigh as they come down. Part of the East German technical model was to allow the left foot to linger a bit in the air as to allow the right foot to begin to turn into the direction of the throw and meet the left foot block the moment it touches down. They throw the left arm ahead of the chest and drag the discus back as they turn the hips into the throw. Jürgen gets bit more extreme bending the left arm and looking like a gull wing as he move through the finish.
They both focus on turning the right leg and hip way ahead of the discus as the left heel plants. Jürgen sticks the left leg block more resulting a more non reverse finish. His right leg pushes forward but not his left leg. Wolfgang on the other hand pushes with both legs as he finishes the turn to add a push just before the release. They both block hard as the right arm rips across the chest.
Discus Throw Information by Dan John
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A Contrarian Approach to the Discus Throw by Dan John
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[@Diseaseisreversible]

Schult really know how to keep that arm back so far. Schmidt on the other hand looks so smooth. Both have so much power and speed.

[@candyland4021]

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