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September 7, 2007

Strange But True!

Q. People will tell you it's the crudest and rawest event of the Olympics, where the athlete can lose his balance, get pulled off his feet, feel like his arms are being tugged from their sockets. He certainly wouldn't wear ballet shoes for this one, right?

A. The hammer throw requires such intricate footwork and timing that U.S. gold medal winner Harold Connolly did indeed wear ballet shoes for his 1956 throw, says Vincent Mallette in “The Science of the Summer Games.” First the athlete enters the 7-foot throwing circle, then faces away from the ultimate direction of the hammer's release. He holds the handle in both hands and starts swinging the cannonball-like head around his body, building centrifugal force, leaning to “counter” the pull, up to maybe 140 rpm. Finally he lifts the hammer explosively and lets 'er rip, at 60 mph or more.


 
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