In the Circle of Champions: A Tribute to Discus Throw's All-Time Greats
The Greatest 10 Discus Throwers in History
Discus is one of the original five Olympic sports, and there are plenty of throwers who have claimed victory in this sport over the years.
But who are the greatest discus throwers of all-time? Keep reading to find out!
Legendary discus thrower Ilke Wyludda
Discus was introduced to the Greek pentathlon event as early as 708 B.C., but like many Olympic sports, discus throwing has evolved over time, with modern athletes now breaking records that ancient Romans and Greeks would find incredible.
It was only in 1900 that discus throwers began rotating their whole body before throwing—a technique that pushed the sport to new heights and has become the standard method for throwing today.
There are many international competitions for this solo sport outside of the Olympics, such as the World Athletics Championships, Golden Leagues and European Cups.
While women were only allowed to participate in professional discus-throwing decathlons and pentathlons from 1928, the modern-day discus Hall of Fame features female and male athletes from across the world.
So, who are the greatest discus throwers of all-time? This is The Sporting Blog’s pick of the modern men and women to make discus history.
1. Gabriele Reinsch
She holds the world record for a 76.80m throw in 1988 (male and female)
She is one of six German throwers in the World Top 10
Reinsch became a sports teacher after her retirement
East-German Gabi Reinsch may not have as many medals or accolades as her competitors, but the fact that she still holds the world record for the furthest discus throw ever makes her one of the most important and iconic female athletes in sports history today.
Reinsch has won medals at the World University Games and European U20 Championships, as well as fourth place at the 1990 European Championships and seventh place at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
2. Jürgen Schult
He holds a world record for a 74.8m throw in 1986 (men)
He’s a gold and silver Olympic medalist
Schult is a three-time World Championship medalist (two gold and one silver)
German athlete Jürgen Schult is discus throwing royalty. He rose to fame in 1986 for setting the world record for a throw, which landed at 74.8m (243ft).
Schult is renowned for his stoic, powerful athleticism and consistent career throughout the 1980s and early 2000s.
He participated in four Olympic Games, seven World Championships and three European Cups, the latter of which he won gold every time. An undeniable legend!
3. Vergilijus Alekna
He holds a record as a 12-time Golden League gold medalist
Alekna has won gold twice at the Olympics
He holds the record for the third-best throw in the world at 73.88m (male)
Vergilijus Alekna is a Lithuanian discus thrower known for his brute-force strength—and diplomatic personality.
He holds the record for most Golden League gold medals ever won and has participated in three Olympic Games, as well as several World Championships and Athletics Finals, winning medals every time.
After his successful athletic career, Alekna retired from discus throwing and became a bodyguard for his country’s prime minister. He is now a politician in the Lithuanian parliament. Talk about range!
4. Zdeňka Šilhavá
She’s a three-time Czechoslovakia National Champion
She has the second-best discus throw in the world (male and female) at 74.56m
She took sixth place at the 1988 Seoul Olympics
Zdeňka Šilhavá is a retired Czech discus thrower who made her nation proud on a number of impressive occasions.
She competed in the European Championships, World Championships and two different Olympic Games, achieving consistently high placements every time.
In 1984, she set the national women’s world record for discus throwing at a mighty 74.56m (244.6ft), thus leaving her mark on the history of this physically challenging sport.
5. Gerd Kanter
He’s the third-best throw in the world at 73.38m (male)
He’s a World Championship gold medalist
Kanter has won two Olympic medals
Estonian track, field and discus athlete Gerd Kanter is undoubtedly one of the best of his kind in history.
He holds the record for third-best throw and has competed in two Olympic Games as well as four World Championships, where he has won gold, silver and bronze medals.
6. Ilke Wyludda
She’s a two-time European Championship gold medalist
Wyludda is an Olympic gold medalist
She’s a two-time World U20 Championship gold medalist
German Ilke Wyludder always goes for gold!
One of several leading German discus throwers of the modern age, Wyludder has received a throng of medals and titles at international competitions for her talent and strength.
This determined young athlete fought hard at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, World Championships, European Championships and Grand Prix.
Her consistent wins and global success made her a popular media icon and sports superstar from a young age.
7. Daniel Ståhl
Ståhl is an Olympic gold medalist
He’s a two-time World Championship medalist
His nickname is the “Swedish Viking”
Sweden’s sporting pride and joy, Daniel Ståhl may be new to the discus scene, but he is certainly earning the attention of fans and judges from across the world.
Ståhl first gained recognition when he won gold at his first-ever Olympic Games at Toyko 2020.
He has since gone on to win multiple other medals for discus at the World Championships and European Cups.
Ståhl also has medals for winning various athletic competitions in Sweden for shot put and hammer-throwing.
8. Diana Gansky
She’s the 2002 European Champion
She’s a two-time Olympic silver medalist
After retiring, she became a sports teacher and physiotherapist in her hometown of Potsdam
Yet another German discus-throwing legend is the highly decorated Diana Gansky.
Winning silver medals at the 1988 Olympics and 1987 World Championships, Gansky pushed her career even further by winning the European Championships in 2002.
She then retired and trained to become a sports teacher for the next generation of promising young discus athletes.
9. Yuri Dumchev
He’s won 32 titles in Russian discus competitions
Dumchev is a two-time Olympic Games finalist
He’s the youngest finalist in top 9 Olympics leaderboard history
Russian-born Yuri Dumchev was a field, track and discus athlete for the Soviet Union throughout the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s.
Although he passed away in 2016, Dumchev is still widely regarded as one of the most talented discus throwers in history, and he’s also remembered for his love of acting and cinema.
After retiring as a pro athlete, Dumchev appeared in over 50 movies and theatre productions.
10. Irina Meszinsky
She’s in sixth place in discus on the World All-Time list
She holds the 1984 world record of 73.36m
She’s the fourth-best discus thrower in Germany (top 10 list)
Joining Reinsch, Gansky and Myludder on the list of phenomenal female German discus athletes is Irina Meszinsky.
Though originally from Prague, Meszinksky competed for Germany and earned herself a string of record-breaking achievements throughout her career.
Starting young, she competed in the 1979 Junior European Championships, eventually moving on to the European Championships in Athletics and Friendship Games of 1984, copping high placements and medals.
Meszinsky undoubtedly left her mark on this uniquely challenging sport.
These 10 discus throwers made history with their formidable strength, tenacity and skill. Who do you think is the greatest discus thrower of all-time? Let us know in the comments.
