1940's Sports | Bob Mathias Hurls the Discus in the Decathlon

Photograph

By: Associated Press

Date: August 6, 1948

Source: Associated Press. Bob Mathias Hurls the Discus in the Decathlon. August 6, 1948. AP/Wide World Photos. Available online at http://www.apwideworld.com (accessed March 25, 2003).

Introduction

The Summer Olympics resumed in 1948 in London, after being canceled in 1940 and 1944 because of World War II. The focal point of the Olympics was the track and field events, and no event held as much attention and fascination as the decathlon. The decathlon consists of ten events contested over two days: 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-meter run, 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500-meter run. In the competition, the athlete's performance is rated against a total score of 10,000 points. The decathlon winner was considered the "world's greatest...