Discus throwers born a breed apart
JAKARTA (JP): All men are not created equal. In a sport like discus, it is apparent that men of diminutive frame don't have the slightest chance of beating their giant counterparts.
Three-time world discus champion Lars Riedel is an example. Standing 1.99 meters the muscular German must have been genetically programmed to become a world champion.
Riedel, a native of Chemnitz in former East Germany, started competing in track and field at the age of seven.
After a year of training, he performed unbelievably. As an eight year old, he leapt 3.78m, threw a 150-gram ball 47m and started crosscountry running. Riedel, now 28, began throwing discus at the age of 13.
"To be a world-class discus thrower, you should ideally be at least 1.90m tall," he said. Riedel is here for the second Bob Hasan track and field invitational meet, being held today from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Senayan Madya stadium.
"What's more, you should have been born with a talent in the sport. Good movements and quick reflexes are also important," said Riedel.
The German threw his personal best of 69.08m in 1995.
He produced a golden hat trick in the world championships, throwing 66.20m in Tokyo, Japan in 1991, 67.72m in Stuttgart, Germany in 1993, and 68.76m in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1994.
China's team manager Yang Ching Sheng shared the elitist view.
"To be a world-class discus thrower, you should have a physical advantage like Riedel," he said.
"And the right food," he added.
"Our athletes do not eat as much beef as European or American athletes. Therefore, European or American athletes have more power than us.
"Ours are also not as tall as them who stand about 2m on average and are well built," Yang said.
Too hard
Looking at his charge, discus thrower Ma Wei, Yang said he did not expect Ma to win today. The Caucasian opponents are too hard to beat: Riedel, Stefan Fernholm of Sweden, Randy Heiser of the United States and Poltoratski of Uzbekistan.
Moreover, pot-bellied Ma is 29.
"Too old," Yang insisted, "and he is only 1.88m tall."
Yang said it is not difficult to find young men 2-meters tall in China, but it is difficult to lure them into throwing the discus. Most gravitate to basketball, which is more lively and exciting, he said.
Yang is not the only pessimist. Riedel is also pessimistic about his chance of beating his record today.
"I don't think I will make some improvements here," said Riedel who chose the sport after being impressed by an athletic statue of a discus thrower.
"In this stadium, there is no head wind from the right side," he explained. (arf)