Throwing a discus isn't at all like spinning a frisbee, despite their surface similarities.

"It comes down to the length of the pull on the discus," says CBC analyst Michael Smith. "If you looked straight down on the discus thrower, they should be able to pull with both feet on the ground for 180 degrees or more. That will add to the release velocity of the discus. It's a much more efficient use and transfer of energy if there's a long pull and good release angle, but the release velocity is very key."

"You don't want the flight of the discus to be wobbly -- I guess it would be kind of like throwing a spiral with a football," Smith explains. "Discuses are also weighted for different distances, and people throwing at Olympic distances will be throwing discuses with a lot of the weight around the rim because that gives them a higher spin, which will give it a truer and longer flight."

"You have to get deep inside yourself to find the right release point. Throwing the discus is like setting off a controlled explosion. You can't be over- or under-excited, so the discus thrower needs a different kind of mindset -- relaxed, but highly focused. Psychology is a very big factor because technique is so important."